MANILA, Philippines – Rappler is set to host news groups from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations  (ASEAN) for the 3rd and final leg of the 4M Asia data journalism training program organized by French-based agency CFI.

From October 13 to 19, a total of 11 media practitioners from 6 countries will learn how to future-proof their proposed data journalism projects.

They will be trained by French data journalist Marianne Bouchart and Rappler’s Gemma Mendoza. 

Bouchart founded the data journalism non-profit organization HEI-DA. She also managed the Data Journalism Awards of the Global Editors’ Network.

Mendoza is the head of the Rappler Research and Content Strategy unit. She led a number of data-driven initiatives within Rappler including #BudgetWatch and data executions and analysis on the 2013 and 2016 Philippine election results.  

The 11 participating media groups for the week-long workshop at the Rappler office are:

• Cambodian Centre for Independent Media (CCIM) from Cambodia
• ThmeyThmey News, Cambodia
• Indonesian Community Radio Networks (JRKI), Indonesia
• Tempo, Indonesia
• BFM Media Sdn Bhd, Malaysia
• Malaysiakini, Malaysia
• The Filipino Connection, Philippines
• Prachatham, Thailand
• Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), Thailand
• Loa, Vietnam
• VietnamPlus, Vietnam

A 5-person jury chose the teams from among media organizations that submitted project proposals “that could impact on local communities or tackle topics related to people’s rights and freedom.”

The first leg of the 4M Asia program was held in May in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where the participants learned how to kickstart a data journalism project.

In July, the participants went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to acquire skills to make data visualizations and interactive features. 

CFI or Canal France International is the media cooperation agency of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. CFI is tasked with coordinating and implementing France’s aid policy for the development of media in developing countries in Africa and Asia. – Rappler.com