FactSpace W/A 1.04.2024, Monrovia – A two-day intensive social media analytics training session was conducted by FactSpace WA and CABC and concluded successfully, equipping ten participants with advanced skills in using Brandwatch for social media monitoring and research.
Despite some technical challenges, the training provided crucial insights into identifying and analyzing societal fault lines in Liberia.
The training is part of the USAID-DAI Democratizing Digital SMA project, which is training journalists in West Africa—Ghana, Gambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Liberia—to counter the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation.
The training took place on the 27th and 28th of March and brought together ten trainees, predominantly male, with one female participant.
The sessions were led by experts from CABC, Yossabel Chetty and Xolani Yona, alongside Rabiu Alhassan and Salifu Abdul Rahman from FactSpace WA.
On the first day, Yossabel Chetty led an engaging session that included a comprehensive introduction to Brandwatch, a powerful social media analytics tool.
She emphasized the importance of understanding Liberia’s fault lines—such as politics, class, religion, gender, and tribal dynamics—which could be pivotal in reporting and mitigating societal friction.
Participants delved into the mechanics of Brandwatch, learning how to leverage Boolean operators for effective social listening.
They explored the origins and benefits of the data collected by Brandwatch and how to construct precise queries to navigate through vast datasets.
Chetty illustrated the practical applications of these skills using recent events in Liberia, such as local protests against foreign companies exploiting state resources.
The interactive nature of the session encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and critical thinking, examining how social media analytics can track and visualize conversations, identify key influencers, and understand the amplification of narratives.
The second day shifted focus to advanced research methodologies with Emmanuel Weedee, the FactSpace focal person in Liberia, guiding participants through the intricacies of creating effective research queries and data visualization techniques.
The training marked a significant step forward in empowering local journalists and researchers with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate and analyze the complex social media landscape.
By Julius Kofi Satsi
