INTERVIEW

DD: HEI-DA has worked with journalists in various regions. How will this fellowship be tailored for Caribbean journalists working on climate and disaster issues?

MB: The HEI-DA team and myself will be bringing knowledge and skills about climate and data, but that’s only half the story. We will rely on the fellows, as well as local partners and regional experts to make sure the projects fit the context of each country’s specific needs. We’re working with Kiran Maharaj from the Media Institute of the Caribbean, who will be helping the fellows navigate freedom of information laws and requests with their governments. We’re also inviting experts in Barbados to take part in the hackathon jury to provide the teams with valuable feedback that can only come from working in the local context. We’ll use our international experiences to bring insights from around the world that our beneficiaries can relate to and learn from.

DD: You played a central role in selecting the final 12 fellows. Could you tell us a bit about the selection process?

MB: It was a tough process because honestly all of the applications we received were from strong candidates. In the end it came down to the project pitches and their feasibility. We were looking for candidates that had a specific problem they wanted to address, and who would definitely benefit from the upskilling this fellowship will provide.

“It’s about joining forces to put together a project with a greater scope than what you could have achieved on your own.”

DD: Collaboration is a big part of this fellowship, with fellows working in small country teams. In your experience, what makes for strong collaboration in data-driven projects?

MB: The best collaborative projects feature team members with complementary skills and backgrounds. The combined experience of the participants makes for a project that is greater than the sum of its parts. We’re also happy to welcome participants from various news organisations, and at different stages of their careers, to increase the reach and impact of the final projects.

Read more: Meet the fellows of our Data Journalism for Caribbean Disaster Preparedness project

For these types of cross-newsroom collaborations, support from directors and editors is key. It’s about joining forces to put together a project with a greater scope than what you could have achieved on your own.

DD: You’ll be serving both as a trainer and mentor for this project. What are some of your top priorities in supporting the fellows?

MB: My priority is to equip the fellows with both technical tools and editorial confidence. That means helping them sharpen their critical thinking when approaching datasets, guiding them to formulate strong investigative questions, and supporting them in crafting compelling narratives backed by evidence. But beyond the skills, it’s also about building a sense of community — where learning is collaborative, and where asking questions and making mistakes is part of the process.

I’m thrilled to be co-leading this programme alongside Claudia Báez, a brilliant investigative journalist and data journalism trainer from Colombia. Claudia will join us in Barbados for the hackathon and will bring her wealth of experience from Latin America — especially in using data to report on corruption, social justice, and environmental issues. I know the fellows will learn a lot from her perspective, especially when it comes to story design and scoping impactful projects.

DD: What do you hope the fellows walk away with after the six-month fellowship is over?

MB: Confidence! The more confident journalists feel about working with data, the more they’ll dare to ask bold questions, explore new formats, and hold power to account. I hope they come away feeling like data journalism isn’t something reserved for coders or specialists, but a tool they can incorporate into their day-to-day work. I also hope they leave this fellowship with strong peer networks across the Caribbean, and a few stories in hand that they’re really proud of.

DD: Finally, what excites you most about being part of this project?

MB: So many things! First, it’s a privilege to help launch this kind of initiative in the Caribbean — a region that faces urgent climate and disaster challenges, but also has a rich journalistic and civic culture. I’m excited to see what local data storytelling looks like when it’s grounded in regional knowledge and lived experience.

I’m also really looking forward to the in-person hackathon in Barbados. These in-the-room moments are when ideas spark, collaborations form, and magic happens. Watching participants go from a vague idea to a prototype in just three days is always incredibly rewarding.

And finally — this is a project built on trust and partnership. Working alongside Desilon from PMA, Sarah, Claudia, and local partners like the Media Institute of the Caribbean is a joy. Everyone brings their own strength and vision to the table, and that’s what makes this feel so powerful and needed.