Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has applauded Google for offering a series of one-day training for reporters and editors held in Lagos.
Its Lagos State Council Chairman, Adeleye Ajayi gave the applause at the opening session of the third cohort of Google News Lab and NUJ collaboration.
Ajayi, who was accompanied at the occasion by the council Secretary, Tunde Olalere, said the training will assist journalists to have a better grasp of how to use Google’s digital tools for reaching and reporting better stories.
He also underscored the fact that the training would create room for advanced deep dive on search and image research tools as well as fact checking and verification.
According to him, it would bring speed and accuracy into news production, and also inculcate in the reporter factual reporting and updated knowledge of what is being reported.
Ajayi implored participants to concentrate and make the best use of the training to improve various output in news production henceforth.
“My sincere gratitude goes to the management of Google News Lab for this laudable and giant initiative aimed at improving the skills of journalists not only in Nigeria and Africa but also globally,” he said.
Earlier in his welcoming note, the Communications Manager at Google West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, said this is the third in the series and they are not relenting in ensuring media practitioners especially journalists stay on top of their game of providing accurate news production.
The session was facilitated by a Kenyan-based Google News Lab training fellow for Africa, Kenneth Kiunga who pointed out that Google News Lab is under Google News Initiative with efforts to build a stronger future for journalism by elevating and strengthen quality journalism, evolving business modes to drive sustainable growth and empower news organisations through technological innovation.
Some of the digital skills covered at the hands-on session cutting across the fundamental tools, data journalism and visualization as well as newsroom innovation.
Kiunga, for instance in dwelling on fundamental tools covered advanced search with file extensions, search alerts, Google trends, Google Scholar and bonus tool.
Also on digital verification and fact checking, Kiunga who trained as a journalist, took participants on text, photo and video verification in addition to geo-location and some aspects of social media among others.