Over 20 journalists, 20 representatives of civil society and 5 IT developers participate within May 14-15 in the first introductory seminar on journalism based on open data, held in Chisinau. The event is organized by the World Bank Institute, African Media Initiative, in partnership with the e-Government Center, Independent Journalism Centre and the Soros Foundation Moldova.

The seminar is moderated by journalists from "The Guardian" and "O'Reilly Media", experts from the Open Knowledge Foundation, World Bank Institute, Open Institute, e-Government Center and African Media Initiative.

The training program includes presentations, practical exercises, group discussions and case studies. Experts discuss with the participants about the way open data can be used in applications as well as they can be used expertly in journalistic accounts and press inquiries.

“It is the first event of this kind in the Republic of Moldova and it represents the steps the Government and e-Government Center take to build a community of data users within the process of data opening”,  stated Craig Hammer, Media and Governance Specialist at the World Bank Institute.

“We have a great opportunity to see how other colleagues from more developed or less developed countries of the Republic of Moldova use the power of information technology in order to change the way they know about what is going on around them, the way they are watching the Government, the way they bring innovation to the citizens and the way, by using open data, they create added value", Stela Mocan, executive director of the e-Government Center stated.

The e-Government Center representatives presented at the event the open data portal www. date.gov.md, they explained to the participants how this platform can be used in everyday work of journalists, what portal news are and how the interaction between visitors and state institutions takes place.

“While opening more data, we also need to know how to use them. If we can read this data, we will be able understand the problems in essence. We want to know exactly what kind of data the journalists and civil society need so we can publish them the government portal www.date.gov.md”, Irina Tişacova, Open Data Coordinator at the e-Government Center says.

“Open data are more accessible when they are presented with the help of some electronic applications”, Ilona Spataru, PR and Communication coordinator at the e-Government Center says. “Open data applications can revolutionize news stories. For example, data presented on digital maps are dynamic, understandable and easy to use. Independent journalists and experts can compare types of data and may present them in evolution. Thus their materials become more valuable”.

The participants in the seminar will form a dedicated group of specialists working with open data. They will participate in several events dedicated to open data.