LAHORE: The participants of a training workshop, on Saturday, stressed the importance of data journalism, especially in election reporting and discussed the ways and means for enhancing journalists’ skills in an accurate data finding.
They expressed these views during Individualland Pakistan (IL Pakistan)’s day-long training session with journalists, on the usage of data journalism during elections reporting (I-Election), at a local hotel. The workshop session was moderated by Individualland Pakistan analyst Farhan Khalid.
They said that data journalism–the use of data in the production and distribution of information–should be about educating journalists regarding the use of impartial data in their stories and the latest trend in reporting, data journalism and tools. They further said the use of data and statistics in journalism has not been practised in the country, even though when they could play a very important role in improving the standards of news reporting in the country.
“This training has provided me with the knowledge of basic concepts of elections reporting by highlighting use of data and statistics for election reporting. This training helped me understand that a journalist needs to be accurate, impartial and responsible in his reporting,” said a participant at the workshop. Another participant said that media is essential for strong democracy and free and fair election is impossible without the media. Media acts as a crucial watch dog to democratic elections, safeguarding the transparency of the process, he said.
The participants lauded the efforts of Individualland Pakistan and demanded such events should also be held in the future.
Individualland Pakistan is a research based advocacy group, focusing on promoting and strengthening democratic values and enhancing the role of citizens in governance, along with working on a new initiative ‘Reporting elections through data journalism’.
