Media Matters for Democracy–Development Data Reporting Bootcamp

We are pleased to announce the launch of an advanced, hybrid Data Journalism Training Programme in partnership with AidData. This initiative is designed to enhance journalists’ ability to report on global development finance while equipping them with a broader set of high-impact data journalism skills.

The programme begins with structured online pre-training sessions, followed by a fully funded, five-day residential bootcamp. Over the course of this intensive engagement, participants will develop practical competencies in data cleaning, financial data interpretation, dataset analysis, visual storytelling, verification of quantitative claims, and the use of development indicators to frame stronger public-interest stories. A post-training support phase will help participants apply these skills sustainably in their newsroom work.

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Responsiblities:

Over the course of five days, they will learn to recognise how data exposes systems, patterns, and power, and how evidence can reshape stories about governance, development, and accountability. Through hands-on exercises, scavenger hunts, visualisation labs, and newsroom-style pitching sessions, participants will build the confidence to analyse datasets, design meaningful visuals, and craft strong evidence-based narratives grounded in real-world realities. By the end, they will have produced prototype stories, received peer and trainer feedback, and developed a clear roadmap for integrating data-driven reporting into their newsroom workflows.

Qualifications:

This opportunity is open to mid-career journalists in Pakistan with three to five years of professional experience, particularly those covering finance, economic policy, governance, or investigative beats. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to analytical, evidence-based reporting and the capacity to participate in an intensive, high-level program.