By Mua Patrick Mughe in Yaounde
Veteran and award-winning journalist, Eugene N. Nforgwa
who is also publisher of The Standard
Tribune Newspaper has described the practice of use of data as key to
investigative reporting.
The erudite journalist was speaking at a seminar in
Yaounde organised Monday May 16 by the Yaounde chapter of the Cameroon
Association of English Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ.
 |
|
Nforgwa: award-winning journalist
|
In
his presentation, Eugene Nforgwa told the over 12 participants in attendance
that the use of data in reporting adds credibility and accuracy to the news.
He
said “data journalism
is a specialty reflecting the increased role that numerical data is used in the
production and distribution of information in the digital era. It reflects the increased interaction
between content producers (journalists) and several other fields”.
Using the
example of the current war against the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, Nforgwa noted
that by using data, real facts about the situation in the war area could be
appropriately stated.
“Most
data-driven stories reveal hidden information” said Nforgwa. Journalists were
urged during the seminar, which came weeks after the celebration of world press
freedom day, to go beyond the use of press releases dished out by institutions
in reporting stories.
In
an earlier address at the start of the seminar, the CAMASEJ Yaounde Chapter president,
Elias Ngalame who is also Eden Newspaper bureau chief for the Centre region
said the workshop though belated is of vital importance to journalists.
Hear
him: “This seminar is more or less a prolonged version of the 2016 world press
freedom day. We had some difficulties in organising it much earlier that is why
we had some delays”.
Though taking place much later, the Yaounde CAMASEJ chief
executive underscored that “knowledge building in our profession is very
important. Those who are here will certainly not regret being part of this
seminar.”
In
another intervention at the end of the seminar, the national president of
CAMASEJ, CRTV’s Simon Lyonga said last Monday’s training was essential to
journalists. He said such training, which he described as timely, should be
organised regularly so that journalists can upgrade their knowledge on issues
related to the profession.
In
thanking organisers for such a laudable initiative, Simon Lyonga used Monday’s
seminar to announce the first ever non-elective general assembly of CAMASEJ
which he said will be held in Bamenda in August this year. He said preparations
ahead of the general assembly which henceforth will take place annually were
far advanced. At least some five Chapters of CAMASEJ have so far signalled
their participation, he disclosed.
Comments
Post a Comment