Data Journalism Workshop for Reporters covering South Africa’s Net Zero Transition

The Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is inviting journalists from South Africa to apply for a data journalism workshop to be held in Johannesburg from January 29 to February 4, 2024.

This five-day workshop will help journalists in South Africa improve their understanding of Net Zero and how the country is measuring up against its decarbonization goals and efforts to pave the way for a just transition.

The workshop will have a sharp focus on data journalism, and will aim to build and develop data literacy, guiding journalists on how to utilize and incorporate data into their work to tell hard-hitting and impactful stories.

Eligibility Criteria

• The workshop is open to journalists from South Africa. No prior experience in data journalism is required; the workshop is open to journalists of all abilities interested in improving their coverage of the country’s climate mitigation efforts and limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels within a fast-closing window.
• Motivated and self-starting journalists interested in covering the topic are invited to apply. They are looking for journalists seeking to develop their data journalism skills incorporate data journalism into their future reporting in the long-term.
• They are especially eager to hear from journalists covering business, finance and tech beats, or those closely covering the country’s emission-reduction policies.
• They welcome applications from journalists from print, television, online and/or radio, with a demonstrated track record of producing incisive, in-depth stories.

Benefits

• EJN will cover travel, accommodation, and meal costs of selected participants.
• Journalists will gain a deeper understanding of how this strategy translates itself into the everyday lives of local people and communities. Participants will also develop and build upon their data journalism skills, learning how to access key databases and how to effectively visualize data for a variety of audiences.
• Selected participants will engage in a combination of classroom-style study and a field trip to experience the real-world implications of the issues being discussed. The classroom-style sessions will be a combination of hands-on data skills training and lectures from external speakers. They will have the opportunity to gain insights from thematic experts and speakers, engage in capacity-building and knowledge-sharing exercises, and network with peers.

Criteria

• Applicants must provide a letter from their editor or media outlet supporting their application. Freelance journalists are welcome to apply but will need a letter of support from a media organization committing to publish or broadcast their stories.
• Applicants must submit two published writing samples or links to stories that have appeared online.
• Story clips related to climate, clean mobility and energy issues are preferred.

Learn more here and apply.