Absa Ghana, in partnership with South Africa’s Rhodes University Department of Journalism and Media Studies, has awarded certificates to two outstanding Business and Financial Times journalists for the completion of a masterclass training in data journalism.
The Absa Data Journalism Masterclass which was held last year was focused on aiding journalists with skills and tools they can use to analyse data to better explain and provide context to news stories.
The journalists – Joshua Worlasi Amlanu and Ebenezer Chike Adjei Njoku – received training aimed at building their capacity to report on financial matters more proficiently.
The masterclass training sessions was led by Dr. Peter Verweij, a world-renowned journalism trainer and academic, targeted journalists including editors and senior business and financial reporters from various media outlets across the country.
Presenting the certificates from Rhodes University Department of Journalism and Media Studies, the Head of Marketing and Communications at Absa Ghana, Cyril Nai congratulated the journalists and noted that the Absa Data Journalism Masterclass is designed to empower journalists to report better on financial information that is used by individuals and corporate organizations to make critical decisions on a daily basis.
Mr. Nai commended the B&FT for supporting the bank over the years and pledged the bank’s commitment to building stronger partnerships with the media. He assured of the bank’s further support in training more financial journalist through the Absa Data Journalism Masterclass.
On his part, the Managing Editor at the B&FT, William Selassy Adjadogo confirmed that the masterclass has benefited both journalists by enriching their reportage with more in-depth, objective analysis. He also called on Absa to extend the scope of programme in future iterations, adding that all stakeholders would be the better for it.
Since the programme’s inception, about nine Ghanaian journalists have had the opportunity to attend the Masterclass at Rhodes University in South Africa. The Absa Data Journalism Masterclass is accredited by Rhodes University as a short course and participants received certificates after the training programme.
