What is data journalism?

Paul Bradshaw from Birmingham City University says:

Data can be the source of data journalism, or it can be the tool with which the story is told — or it can be both.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism says:

Data journalism is simply journalism.

The former is a new and trendy term but ultimately, it is just a way of describing journalism in the modern world.

Learning goals

How to use data for and in stories
- Workbench
- Datawrapper
- Flourish
- Google sheets and friends

Confidence to source and use data in a story
- Data is not scary
Data is (just) another source
- Just like other sources data must be treated fairly and in context

One number in isolation is almost certainly misleading

Narrative/Cognitive tension?

Not sure exactly what to call it - but I think it is important.

More and more stories need (or are enhanced by) analysis and communication of data.
- Unresolved (NZ Herald)
Data can serve as the primary source for an story.
- Follower factory (NY Times)
- Hurricane Maria’s victims
Data can also be the used to tell the story
- Bussed out (Guardian US)
Continuously updated data can be the story - Covid-19