Daily Times

KARACHI: A workshop was held on ‘Election Reporting through Data Journalism’ for journalists by using data and statistics to improve standards of news reporting in the country.

Although this mode has not been in practice on a large scale, but provision of informative and productive statistics regarding Election Reporting through Date Journalism can help a to improve standards of news reporting. Professor Dr. Raees Samdani was of the view that media was capable to play an indispensable role in the proper functioning of a democracy and also enables full public participation in elections by educating voters on how to exercise their democratic rights. Farhan Khalid said, “Data Journalism can make reporting easy, attractive and approachable for every one by using data journalism the stories can be used as references because of facts and figures quoted”. Pakistan has a thriving media landscape and news consumption is much higher than in many other countries.

To improve creative thinking, scientific accuracy and effective communication on adaptation to change in a local and national context, such reporting would help a lot. Through this training we have come to know about the basic concepts of I-elections and use of data and statistics for election reporting. It has also enhanced the conceptual and technical skills of practicing data journalism corresponding to election reporting, participants shared their views. Individualland Pakistan is focusing on promoting and strengthening democratic procedures and enhancing the role and importance of citizens in polls. Reporting elections through data journalism initiative will provide journalists in-depth know how on election reporting by practicing data journalism. During 2016, two Pakistani news organisations were selected among 63 finalists for Data Journalism Awards held by Global Editors Network. More than 40 journalists from all over Karachi attended the workshops and learnt ethics of election reporting, data collection for election reporting, data mining in correspondence to election reporting, visualizing elections and accuracy in reporting through data journalism..

Published in Daily Times, July 9^th , 2017.