StartupSouth Enterprise Development LTD/GTE conducted a training session on Thursday for 50 journalists in the South-South region, focusing on utilizing innovative technology tools in reporting events and the ecosystem in the Niger Delta and beyond.
The organization, a startup ecosystem development and advocacy outfit, aims to inspire founders building high-scale ventures in Nigeria, with a specific focus on the South-South and South-East regions.
Addressing the participants, the Convener, Uche Aniche, stated that the workshop aimed to train journalists in technology reporting.
He emphasized that the training would enable journalists in the Niger Delta region to understand the terms and tools of innovative technologies, particularly for reporting the upcoming launch of a groundbreaking solution developed by Xend Finance.
Aniche encouraged journalists to be passionate and intentional about their understanding of technology innovation and the importance of applying these innovations in their daily reportage to promote accountability in society.
One of the facilitators, Mrs. Chioma Ezenwafor, Head of News at Nigeria Info FM, Port Harcourt, highlighted that technology reporting had advanced significantly and was crucial for publicizing the latest innovations.
Ezenwafor explained that technology and innovative reporting involve using modern technological tools in reporting events and the ecosystem.
She underscored the importance of knowing and appropriately using innovative technology terms in reporting or writing articles.
Ezenwafor noted that technology journalism helps drive innovations, empowers journalists to ask the right questions when issues arise in the technology industries, and holds them accountable.
Ezenwafor urged journalists to understand the tech journalism landscape and key areas of technology and innovation, such as fintech, edtech, agritech, blockchain, and health tech.
She also advised them to specialise in one of these areas and identify relevant stories within tech innovation.
A Senior Tech Writer at TechCabal, Frank Eleanya encouraged journalists to use smartphone apps to harness the potential of tech innovation.
He also advised them to build a strong online presence, personal branding, and audience engagement, in addition to storytelling.
Eleanya stressed the importance of using data to create compelling narratives and understanding the history of tech before reporting on innovations.
Contributing to the session, Mr. Keni Akintoye, Founder of iBrandTV, urged journalists to identify tech tools that can help them stand out as experts.
Akintoye further encouraged journalists to understand data analysis and use it in their daily work to produce quality reports.
