By Taiye Olayemi
Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, has organised a capacity-building programme on precision and data journalism to strengthen evidence-based reporting and improve newsroom accuracy.
Its Chairman, Mr Adeleye Ajayi, while speaking at the training in Lagos, introduced participants to the concept and importance of data and precision journalism in modern news reporting.
According to him, precision journalism is the application of social and behavioural science research methods.
He explained these include data analysis, surveys and computer-assisted reporting, to enhance the accuracy, depth and objectivity of news coverage.
He said the approach enables journalists to analyse and quantify social and political trends using verifiable data.
Ajayi urged participants to pay close attention and apply the skills acquired in their respective newsrooms, adding that the council plans to organise additional training programmes.
Also, the Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, emphasised the growing importance of precision journalism in combating misinformation in the digital era.
He described it as an evidence-based approach that strengthens reporting by using verifiable figures to analyse trends, establish correlations and support projections.
Unlike traditional narrative-driven reporting, he said data journalism requires journalists to deliberately source datasets and present information using charts, graphs and other analytical tools to enhance public understanding.
“In evidence-based reporting, you are not making assumptions or unverified claims. You support your reports with figures and data so audiences can understand trends and comparisons better,” he said.
Otufodunrin noted that the rise of misinformation, particularly on digital platforms, has made data-driven reporting more essential.
“This is an era when many claims cannot be verified. We must ask: where are the numbers, where are the figures, and how can it be proven?” he asked.
He added that technology had improved access to information through websites of local and international organisations, although challenges persist.
These challenges, he said, included limited access to datasets and institutional reluctance to release information.
The media expert advised newsrooms to build and maintain internal data archives from past reports, speeches and coverage to support future investigations and analysis.
On strengthening newsroom capacity, Otufodunrin urged media organisations to retrain journalists and conduct skills audits to identify staff capable of handling data analysis and research roles.
He noted that modern newsrooms must evolve by incorporating diverse skill sets to produce high-quality, evidence-based content in an increasingly competitive information environment.
“Newsrooms need to invest in retraining. There are journalists with science backgrounds who can handle data analysis. It is not always about hiring new staff but assigning roles based on skills,” he said.
Otufodunrin also stressed the importance of continuous training, urging both public and private media organisations to prioritise staff development while encouraging journalists to take personal responsibility for professional growth.
According to him, a well-trained workforce enhances content quality, credibility and public trust in the media.
Participants commended the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful.
Mr John Iwori, Publisher of MaritimeBits, said the training highlighted the importance of scrutinising and verifying data.
Iwori said, ‘’The training has exposed participants to the need to scrutinise and verify data before using it for reporting purposes,’’ she said.
Mrs Chinyere Anyanwu of the Daily Sun noted that the programme would strengthen her investigative and analytical skills.
She expressed confidence that the knowledge gained would improve the depth and credibility of her reports.
Edited by Esenvosa Izah/ Olawunmi Ashafa
