The cycle of workshops began in Yopal, The oil industry as a journalistic issue

On July 28, the first of five workshops that make up the cycle ‘The oil industry as a journalistic issue’ was held, organized by the FNPI – Gabriel García Márquez Foundation for New Ibero-American Journalism, in partnership with Consejo de Redacción (CdR) and the Colombian Association of Petroleum (ACP).

Held in Yopal, the capital of one of Colombia's main oil-producing departments: Casanare, the workshop included the participation of local journalists and those from the neighboring departments of Arauca and Boyacá.

The workshop featured interventions from Nohora Celedón and Óscar Escamilla, experienced journalists in covering the oil industry, who, in dialogue with their colleagues, provided tools and analyzed the challenges they face when covering this topic, which is highly relevant in the departments where the workshop cycle takes place.

Additionally, Ginna Morelo, editor of the Data Unit of the newspaper El Tiempo and co-founder of CdR, offered journalists various tips to avoid transmitting information they do not understand, as often happens when covering issues in the oil sector, and instead to seek understanding and then inform their audiences. “We must do journalism to explain, so we need to seek out experts to explain to us what we do not understand,” Morelo stated.

Morelo also introduced the digital tools available to combat fake news, and others to visualize data, which will allow them to convey truthful, engaging, and accessible information to their audiences.

Upcoming workshops

The workshop cycle continues in Barrancabermeja, Santander, on Saturday, July 25. Registration for the activity is free and open until August 13 for journalists from Santander and nearby departments who cover regional, local, and environmental topics in any format and media outlet.

Subsequently, workshops will be held in Puerto Asís, Putumayo; Villavicencio, Meta; and Barranquilla, Atlántico, for which registrations are also open. Here you can find all the dates and fill out the registration form.