The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development has released its research on the impact of media training for journalists reporting on various sectors of the economy.
The research, which narrowed to the capacity of the media to investigate extractives-related corruption in Nigeria, found that many reporters after being trained performed better in reporting specific developmental issues than when they had little knowledge of the sector.
Israel Boboye, the monitoring and evaluation officer at CJID, during a dissemination meeting, said the research was focused on finding how capacity building for reporters impacted the quality of their reportage or otherwise.
The research also found that most journalists take advantage of training by organisations only when they are promised financial incentives.
It said many, even after such training, continued to lament the lack of funding to embark on quality investigations.
However, despite the country’s media landscape taking a different form as a result of social media, the organisation said there was still a need to engage, train and retrain reporters and their gatekeepers in sector-specific reporting.
He said journalists must continually engage with training opportunities to develop themselves and perfect their craft as there is no limit to learning and excellence.
”Journalists must take advantage of opportunities to be trained and not focus on funding and being paid to attend training workshops.
”Editors as gatekeepers must also take up the responsibility of properly mentoring journalists while training organisations must monitor the performances of candidates they have trained for future references,” he said.