By Abdoul Khadim THIAM – They are journalists, ministry agents, consultants, media technicians and actors from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to receive their certificate for having participated in the financial journalism training program. This training, initiated by Bloomberg Media Initiative, allows auditors to be better equipped to process financial information.
Initially, 55 delegates were selected to follow the financial journalism training. After eight months, 32 are certified by Bloomberg. These 32 listeners are part of the first promotion of Bloomberg in Senegal. They have the necessary background to make economic and financial information digestible for populations. Indeed, this information is often deemed technical and difficult to understand. These delegates were introduced to modules such as the financial market, financial journalism, economics, accounting and finance, data analysis and interpretation, public policies and regulations, the media landscape and the environment. These different modules were carefully chosen by Bloomberg, in synergy with its partners, namely Cesti and Cesag. These schools provided teaching during the eight months of training. According to Mbaye Sarr, auditor of Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (Bmia), this training is of capital importance. “I felt better equipped, better armed, to the point that I did not hesitate to respond to the invitation of one of the listeners of the Bmia training, recipient of the day on a local television channel, to discuss development issues and public policies. This invitation highlights a double meaning of the training: networking and self-confidence which result from the quality of the training.
Before the training, it was difficult for some auditors to understand the reports of certain companies like Sonatel. Today, they have really felt the impact of this Bloomberg training. They are better equipped to analyze financial statements and interpret financial data that previously seemed incomprehensible to them.
The way in which the latest Sonatel Annual Report was analyzed with vertical, horizontal and trend approaches by the professors, will improve the media coverage of their publication in the years to come.
