Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Penplusbytes New Media Hub hosts DRILLING DOWN: Ghana extractives data dive

In order for Journalists in Ghana to play a better watchdog role through generating data driven stories on the extractive sectors, the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), the School of Data, African Spending and Penplusbytes, is running “DRILLING DOWN: Ghana extractives data dive” training from the 25th – 27th February, 2015 at Penplusbytes’ ultra-modern New Media Hub in Accra.

The participants for this 3-day data dive are all alumni of  “Strengthening Media Oversight of the Extractive Sectors” program, drawn from various media organizations in Ghana including Daily Guide, Radio max, The Sun, Joy FM, B&FT, New Crusading Guide, Daily Graphic, GBC, Public Agenda, Citi FM, The Enquirer, The Finder, Radio Max, and Ghana News Agency (GNA).

Building on the knowledge and skills of the extractive sector, the participants are excited about the opportunity to hold public officials to account by producing data driven stories which are supported by solid evidence culminating in greater oversight of prudent utilisation of mining, oil and gas revenue and resources.

The data dive will take participant through topics such as overview of Ghana’s extractive Sector, Understanding what Open Data is, Understanding information and data needs of the sector, Using data for extractives stories within the Ghana context, How to prepare and manage a data journalism project as well as Skills in managing a data project.  The participants are expected to find stories in data, data cleaning and finally generating a data driven story at the end of the day.

According to Samuel Bekoe, Anglophone Africa Regional Associate at NRGI, “the training, with the support of Omidyar Network, forms part of the Institute’s CODEX project ("Catalyzing Open Data for Extractives") which aims to increase the use of extractive industry data to improve linkages between extractive revenues and human development outcomes.”

Participants will learn to use data tools; working on actual extractives data from Ghana. They will pursue ideas for data analysis and will receive support and guidance from the trainers. The final day training will have participants take a short test to demonstrate their acquired data skills on the data tools used during the training. After the data drive, participants are able to apply for story bursaries to generate data driven extractive stories and assigned a mentor to assist them in navigating extractive sector data driven stories approach.

ABOUT

Penplusbytes is a leading organization in Africa working in 3 areas: governance and accountability, new media and innovations as well as oil, gas and mining.

The Natural Resource Governance Institute is a non-profit policy institute and grantmaking organization that promotes effective, transparent and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources for the public good.

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