Journalists on Wednesday commended Google for availing them the knowledge on exploring the search engine to enhance their practice.
The journalists made their commendation at the closing of a two-day workshop on Google tools for Journalism organised for staff of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja in collaboration with Google.
The Head of Special Projects of NAN, Malam Muhammad Tola, commended the foresight of the Managing Director, Mr Bayo Onanuga, who had resolved to improve the proficiency of journalists in their practice.
Tola said the training was very impactful and beneficial, adding that it had sharpened his skills and understanding on Google tools.
He noted that more than 50 per cent of the participants were impacted with the skills and believed that it would enhance their productivity and efficiency on the job.
Tola, who is also the Head, Health, Gender and Population of NAN, however, called for a robust and sustainable relationship with Google.
Another participant, Mr Ismail Abdullaziz, the Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Multimedia NAN, said the training was good and timely, as new crop of journalists were beginning to emerge.
“What Google has done is to assist veterans who have the etiquette with tools to mentor the young crop of journalists that are emerging.
“As we are experiencing a transition of the practice of old journalism into a new journalism, there is need for constant training.
“I have learnt Google tools and sites on how to verify the authenticity of information on stories, pictures and videos before they can be used,’’ he said.
A Desk Editor with the agency, Mr Martins Odeh, said the training has built his capacity to approach his work better.
He said the training has improved his knowledge on how to tell stories with data employing statistics with the use of pie charts and graphs, among others.
On her part, Miss Sadiya Hamza, Head, Foreign Desk NAN, said that the training had opened her eyes to the numerous Google tools available for journalists.
“With this training I realised that I have not utilised half of what Google offers to me as a journalist.
“It was really an educative and enlightening training and I commend the NAN management for organising it,’’ she said.
Hamza also called on the NAN management to provide more of such trainings for the members of staff to boost their capacities as journalists.
She added that the training was necessary for reporters and called for the training of all NAN journalists.
Also speaking, a Senior Correspondent with the agency, Mrs Magdalene Ukuedojor, said the training was beneficial and impactful.
Ukuedojor appreciated the agency for organising such a laudable programme.
“The Google training was beneficial to me. I have learnt how to use Google tools to enhance my journalistic capabilities.
“The training will help me immensely in my reportage, as quick steps in getting trending stories and how to verify authentic sources for stories and images from Google was taught,’’ she said.
Similarly, Miss Cecilia Ologunagba, a Senior Correspondent, said that the training had enlightened her on the basic tools a data journalist required to be effective.
She noted that formerly she didn’t know how to get data online and analyse it, but with the knowledge she has gained from the training, data reporting would now be easy.
Ologunagba, who covers the National Bureau of Statistics, said she writes a lot of data stories and this training would help her immensely.
“There is a lot to benefit from Google, like comparing trends, using the Google trends and search.
“I can also save my documents and pictures online through Google drive, all these knowledge will definitely boost my reportage.’’
High light of the event included presentation of certificates to the participants. (NAN)