Series 2: Data Journalism & Visualization for Rookies

The impact of the Covid-19 global pandemic on traditional media’s business model, restricted content distribution channels due to lockdowns have forced many newsrooms to switch to survival mode. However, cost-cutting and retrenchments are merely band-aid solutions to briefly stop the haemorrhage, and are not long term measures to transform losses into profit beyond this outbreak period. Many newsrooms have realized they need to accelerate its transition to digital - revamping methods of sourcing, production, presentation and distribution of content. Journalists have to unlearn old habits and embrace new skills, tools and mindset.

Against this background, we are pleased to roll out a series of webinars to help journalists kickstart their journey into data journalism, a field that has proven to help newsrooms reach a wider audience, increase views and engagement, strengthen quality journalism and boost brand recognition.

Technology’s rapid improvement has made it simple and easy to pick up data journalism - with no coding or graphic design skills required. This series is meant for beginners. We call it Data Journalism for Rookies.

Webinar 1: Introduction to Data Journalism

This session will showcase the benefits and impacts of data journalism by looking at some of the best data-driven reports from all over the world. You will also learn about different data sources and techniques to find data online.

About the speakers

Kuek Ser Kuang Keng

Keng is an award-winning digital journalist cum trainer based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is the founder of Data-N, a training program that helps journalists to integrate data journalism into daily reporting. Data-N has helped publications like Foreign Policy, BBC World Service, Mediacorp and Malaysiakini to enhance their storytelling with data, visual and interactive components. With the support of Google News Initiative, he has been conducting regular digital journalism workshops across the region since 2018. Keng is also the competition officer of Data Journalism Awards (2019) and Sigma Awards (2020), two international awards that recognize outstanding work in the field of data journalism worldwide.

Trinna Leong

Trinna is a freelance journalist slash trainer from Malaysia who has worked for local and international media organizations in Southeast Asia. With nearly a decade of experience covering the country’s political twists and turns, the infamous 1MDB scandal, twin air disasters and the high-profile assasination of a North Korean elite among her extensive reporting portfolio, Trinna understands the struggle of on-ground journalists with both reporting and dealing with editors. Taking her knowledge as a field journalist who has done investigative work and in-depth narrative reporting, Trinna is now adapting it into hands-on workshops that are useful to her colleagues in this industry. Since 2018, Trinna has conducted digital tools and verification workshops across Malaysia with the support of Google News Initiative in an effort to raise awareness of various tools and improve reportage.