Prerequisites

• Basic familiarity with media work.
• Computer and internet skills.
• No prior experience in data analysis required.

Course Description

Data is no longer just numbers—it is stories waiting to be uncovered. With the advancement of artificial intelligence, it is now possible to analyze massive volumes of data at unprecedented speed, revealing patterns and insights that were previously invisible. In this context, data journalism no longer relies solely on traditional skills; it now requires a deep understanding of intelligent tools capable of transforming data into impactful media content.

Course Objective

By the end of this course, participants will:
• Understand the fundamentals of data journalism and the role of AI within it.
• Use AI-powered tools for data analysis.
• Develop skills in transforming data into compelling journalistic stories.
• Interpret results and identify patterns.
• Verify data and ensure its quality.

Course Outline

• Introduction to data journalism and AI:
- The concept and importance of data journalism.
- The role of AI in advancing journalistic work.
- Types of data and their sources.
- Limitations of using AI in analysis.

• Data collection and preparation:
- Open data sources.
- Data cleaning techniques.
- Organize and prepare data for analysis.
- Verify data credibility.

• Data analysis using AI:
- AI-powered data analysis tools.
- Identify patterns and trends.
- Use AI for summarization and analysis.
- Ask the right questions of the data.

• Transforming data into a story:
- Build story ideas from data.
- Craft evidence-based narratives.
- Select journalistic angles.
- Simplify data for audiences.

• Data visualization:
- Fundamentals of data representation.
- Choose appropriate formats (charts, infographics).
- Simple design tools.
- Link visuals to the narrative.

• Verification and ethics:
- Verify the accuracy of data and analysis.
- Detect bias in data.
- Ethical considerations in using AI in journalism.
- Professional responsibility in presenting data.

Course Benefits

• An electronic graduation certificate by Al Jazeera Media Institute.
• Final applied project (a data-driven journalistic story).