Peacemaker Mbungiramihigo, the Media High Council executive secretary, has urged journalists who report on business and economy issues to always cross-check facts and figures, adding that developing the right narration skills is also essential to report ‘efficiently and impactfully’.

Mbungiramihigo was speaking during a one-day training workshop for business reporters organised by National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) and Media High Council in Kigali on Tuesday. The training is aimed at equipping business news writers with basic knowledge and skills on economy and business reporting.

Claude Nyirimanzi, the NISR team leader for research and documentation, emphasised the need for data visualisation in business reporting, saying the approach eases audience’s understanding of the subject matter.

"Therefore, that why we thought it is important to equip business journalists with requisite skills to help them improve their reporting on the economy and other business-related issues. Nyirimanzi added that most writers do not understand the area, especially interpretation of statistical data.

Venuste Twarabanye, a TV reporter and one of the trainees, said the skills gained will help him to improve reporting on statistical data. However, journalists called for more training workshops to create awareness on ‘specific’ statistical data. Most media houses in Rwanda do not provide training for journalists covering specialised beats, like business and economy, the reporters added.