Lornke
A civil society organization under the aegis of Policy Alert in partnership with Open Society Initiative for West Africa has engaged journalists in a one-day investigative training workshop in Port Harcourt.
The training is geared towards aiding journalists in thorough reportage especially when reporting issues bothering the extractive industries within Niger Delta.
In his opening address, Mr. Bolton Tijan-Akpan, executive director, policy alert and its program coordinator, said thorough data analysis is vital in reporting the inputs of multinationals and the government in the development of host communities where natural resources are extracted.
On his part, Charles Mba, the program lead of Dataphyte, an organization which provides access to information and socio-economic data in Nigeria, noted that statistical data analysis validates information reporting and ensures proper understanding especially to those in the community.
“How well you present your information matters especially with data, either with the five statistical data analysis which are; Trend format, composition format, relationship format or location format. Using either of these data analysis format will aide proper understanding of your report”
Also, one of the resource persons at the workshops, Gabriel Mfon said the aim of the program is to equip journalists on investigative reporting with facts.
Meanwhile, the co-program coordinator, Peter Egbule said that the program is aimed at ensuring thorough investigative reporting for fairness in resource benefits for host communities.
Also, Ken Henshaw, one of the resource persons at the workshop said data uptake is very vital when reporting, especially for CSOs and the media; adding that without data, information somewhat breaks.
According to him, data transmits information breakdown to the barest minimum for the common man to understand.
