The Data and Computational Journalism (DCJ) Workshop and Conference, supported by the United States Embassy in Jakarta, provided data and computational journalism training for COVID-19 coverage to 30 participants consisting of journalists, lecturers, and journalism students in Banjarmasin, Maluku, and surroundings.
This training aims to increase the knowledge and skills of participants to analyze data more critically and accurately in order to better explain the reality of the pandemic. The head of the United States of America Jakarta, Michael Quinlan, at the closing of the virtual training, Sunday (15/8).
In extraordinary situations such as a pandemic, journalists have an important role by providing information on the current situation and the latest news related to covid-19, such as cases, government policies, public responses, findings of medical experts, and analysis in the health sector. front line in the fight against public disinformation.
The emergence of various data related to COVID-19, both from the government and non-profit organizations (NGOs), can help journalists to produce better news by providing in-depth analysis, but on the other hand can also confuse journalists.
The reason is that some data are sometimes inconsistent and integrated among various government organizations and institutions. Not only that, the lack of knowledge about data journalism also prevents journalists from understanding and processing data from sources.
Therefore, DCJ realizes that training is very important for journalists. “DCJ aims to equip journalists with broad skills and knowledge to handle and minimize errors or disinformation before, during, and after an outbreak,” said DCJ 2021 Project Officer, Utami Diah Kusumawati.
“Bringing US and Indonesian experts in the fields of journalism and technology in discussion panels and hands-on practice, will build a strong network and strengthen partnerships for the two countries,” he added.
For information, this DCJ training is the fourth series of training that has been carried out by DCJ 2021. Previously, DCJ had held training in Jakarta (DKI Jakarta), Surabaya (East Java), Makassar (East Sulawesi).
Meanwhile, DCJ 2021 Communication Lead, Annissa Mutia said that this training highlighted the practice of data journalism, its challenges and opportunities in Indonesia during the pandemic, both in the newsroom in the capital city of Jakarta and other provinces with high COVID-19 cases.
“Displaying data journalism best practices, exploring emerging technologies and exchanging knowledge about data journalism and technology between experts from the US and Indonesia at the peak of the event, namely the 2021 DCJ international conference,” said Annissa.
Anang Fadhilah
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