Fostering skills in using data to present journalistic works

On December 14, the Hai Duong Provincial Journalists Association organized a training course on data usage skills to create attractive journalistic works, suitable for the digital transformation trend for 35 members, editors, reporters of press agencies, journalist associations, and journalist clubs in the province.

Journalist Nguyen Hoang Nhat, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper, guides and exchanges information with students.

Journalist Nguyen Hoang Nhat said that storytelling with data has long been a trend in world journalism. In the trend of digital transformation, data journalism technology has the ability to classify, filter and present information in a scientific, intuitive and easy-to-understand way. Data journalism has the ability to simulate information using charts, maps, image matrices, etc. combined with the analysis and instructions of journalists, will create journalistic works with a more attractive form than traditional articles.

Journalistic data presented through charts, maps, and image matrices also helps readers get an overview of an issue, avoiding boredom in presenting the work.

According to journalist Nguyen Hoang Nhat, if the traditional working tools of reporters are cameras and word processors, today's reporters can use spreadsheets, specialized data analysis tools, graphics software, and even programming tools to present their work. Data journalism has created a different type of journalism compared to the traditional one.

Once understanding the role and effect of data in journalistic works, students will practice applying Google Sheets and Infogram tools to turn data into new journalistic works that have high interaction with readers.