Dataphyte inducts 155 campus journalist ambassadors

Joshua Olufemi during one of Dataphyte-facilitated trainings

Dataphyte, a media research and data analytics organisation is set to induct 155 campus journalists in Nigeria.

During the duration of the programme, the Dataphyte Campus Ambassadors will be mentored in digital skills including accountability journalism, use of spreadsheets, writing for the web, and critical thinking.

According to a press statement issued by Dataphyte founder/CEO, Joshua Olufemi, the participants slected from 35 tertiary institutions in Nigeria will be trained between October 15 and 16, 2020.

The statement reads: “October 15th marks the launch date for Dataphyte’s maiden Campus Journalism initiative. The data development outfit will welcome 155 ambassadors selected from 35 tertiary institutions across the country. Interactive and by extension Dataphyte have a mandate for the nation development, with data journalism being the unique advocacy tool for the latter. It is for this reason Dataphyte has seen it fit to host this fellowship. Following the induction is an intensive data journalism training on the 15th and 16th of October 2020.

“Speaking of Data Journalism, it has become an undeniable frontier for media and literacy in the Global North. However, the gaps in knowledge and implementation in the African media landscape remain a cause for concern. We have also observed a deficit in quality output from existing data journalists. Although, one could attribute this to the novelty of the concept. Not to mention data journalism concepts cut across different disciplines, such as statistics and information technology,

“More so, with the adoption of open data policy in Nigeria, the need for effective Data Journalism becomes apparent. With the rapidly expanding troves of data in different sectors of the economy, a Reporter without the skills to first analyze these concepts might find themselves in the deep end.

“Ergo, the Campus Journalist Ambassador program will mentor campus journalists in digital skills, including accountability journalism, use of spreadsheets, writing for the web, and critical thinking. Dataphyte’s Program Lead notes that “while not every journalist needs to code, everyone who works in the media does need to be digitally literate, numerate.” So comprehension of how technology relates to data sourcing, storytelling, and audience development and relationship is sacrosanct.

“The Campus Journalist Ambassador Program will also provide campus journalists with the platform to share tips, tools and opportunities that will make them leaders in the data journalism space.”