Afifuddin Acal is a journalist and the editor of Data Journalism Digdata.id, a local online media in Aceh Province, Indonesia.
Afifuddin’s Working Group Data Literacy program increased journalists’ understanding of open data sources that can be used to write news stories and data-based coverage. The project trained 15 local, national, and international journalists from the Aceh Environmental Journalists Forum to become facilitators of the Data Literacy Workshop Group in Aceh, Indonesia.
The training encouraged further collaboration between journalists, media, and data owners in developing data-based coverage and providing better public access to information. After the training, select participants moved on to create a methodology for working on data journalism-based reporting. During this time participants received mentorship and guidance from data journalism experts. Due to the success of the project, there are now plans to establish data journalism courses at local universities in Aceh that offer journalism studies.
Afifuddin was a participant in the IVLP Project Current Trends in Grassroots Journalism, organized by the U.S. Department of State and FHI 360.
Afifuddin's exchange experience led to the development of his IVLP Impact Award Project: "IVLP gave me new insight into my field and helped me develop a global network of peers."
San Diego, CA; Washington, DC; Louisville, KY; Boston, MA; New York City, NY; Philadelphia, PA