BEST PRACTICES FOR ORGANIZING TRAININGS IN DATA JOURNALISM: A CASE STUDY OF THAI PBS TELEVISION STATION

Abstract

Abstract
          In today’s information age, consumers are increasingly demanding for news outlets to report with more accuracy and credibility. Data Journalism provides the answer to help media outlets address these consumer demands. Due to the need for knowledge, i.e. the ability to conduct searches, manage and process data, or even work across “professions”, Thai Public Broadcasting Service and Thai Journalist Association have implemented development programs of their own to improve and enhance the skills of their journalists. Thai PBS created an In-House Data Journalism Training Program. This particular training program was established to enhance skills relating to the production of quality media content by efficiently and effectively integrating and utilizing Data Journalism work processes in daily work life.
          Thai PBS Data Journalism In-House Training Program focusses on the use of best practices in training to develop information reporting skills summarized in the KTCP Model developed as a result of this research. Training at Thai PBS is divided into 4 steps: 1) Knowledge: Providing basic knowledge to participants to build understanding; 2) Cheat Sheet: Learning techniques for the proper use of spreadsheet programs at three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced; 3) Tip Visual: Understanding Visual Design Principles and how to integrate them into news; and 4) Partnership: Learning efficient team-working skills by taking data from the above 3 steps to write news and tell stories with the use of pictures under the principles of telling interesting stories. This article uses news relating to 365 Days (PM2.5) to show that by using the KCTP Model we can improve data journalism skills of participants, either by using a filter process (Filter) which requires a spreadsheet program to analyze the data, or even the step of transforming data into images (Visualization) with the teaching of simple designing by using time saving online tools under the concept of designing that “It is not necessary to be beautiful, but it must be simple and not complex for interpretation”. This KCTP Model enables the trainees to produce actual information work outcomes in order to provide answers to the issue that modern data journalists must have multiple skills and can tell stories from big data sets efficiently.