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The Executive Director of ROUNDCHECK, Caleb Ijioma, addressed journalists from selected local newsrooms during a newsroom engagement training session held on Friday, September 26.
The six-week hybrid programme organised by Orodata Science and Africa Data Hub, which began on August 21, 2025, was designed to help newsrooms strengthen their news desks with real-time data, editorial support, and investigative skills.
Speaking in a session titled “Factchecking Meets Storytelling”, Caleb trained participants on how to combine verification techniques with strong narratives to improve both accuracy and audience engagement. He explained that while verification is the discipline at the core of journalism, fact-checking is its specific application, one that builds trust and coherence in reporting.
The session broke down the anatomy of a verified story. It also introduced narrative techniques for fact-checking and highlighted the importance of credible sourcing. Journalists were shown tools for verifying data, images, videos, and websites, alongside practical steps for fact-checking claims such as reviewing full texts, checking context, presenting evidence, and consulting experts.
Caleb noted that certain claims, such as data, history, and statistics, can be fact-checked, while others, like opinions, weather, or future forecasts, cannot. He also stressed the value of multiple and authoritative sources, peer-reviewed references, and consistent methodology.
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“Weaving in storytelling and narrative techniques like hooks, quotations, and vivid descriptions into fact-checks makes verified stories more engaging and impactful,” he mentioned during the session.
The newsroom engagement programme forms part of Orodata Science and Africa Data Hub’s efforts to strengthen local reporting in Nigeria. For participants, the session offered hands-on tools to improve their investigations, enhance story credibility, and connect better with their audiences.
