A data journalist’s new year’s resolutions
By: Marianne Bouchart
Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Data, Blockchain, Data Journalism, Journalism

What data journalists should stop doing

‘Using word clouds . I can’t believe that I still see this being used as a data visualization that is presented as significant.’ Saleem Khan (JOVRNALISM and INVSTG8.net, Canada)

. I can’t believe that I still see this being used as a data visualization that is presented as significant.’ Saleem Khan (JOVRNALISM and INVSTG8.net, Canada) ‘Acting like a data geek, telling good story is the point.’ Pinar Dag (Dag Media, Turkey)

‘Pontificating, thinking we know all the answers.’ Simon Rogers (Google, US)

‘Doing those data-mapping “projects” that actually have no story, that only show us how it looks like on the map! — so what???’ Alla Rybina (Gothenburg University, Sweden)

What do you wish for in 2018?

We started with the following wishes to the international data journalism community:

- more accessible, open and usable data

- more collaborations and investigations holding the powerful accountable

- safer conditions for journalists worldwide to use data in their work

- more exciting projects for everyone

Then experts went into specifics:

‘A tool where all open databases of all governmental agencies and organizations exist in one place, are updated frequently and accessed in a standardised way. Also, should be free. It is a greedy request but I would love to see it happen in my lifetime.’ Walid Al-Saqaf (Södertörn University, Sweden)

exist in one place, are updated frequently and accessed in a standardised way. Also, should be free. It is a greedy request but I would love to see it happen in my lifetime.’ Walid Al-Saqaf (Södertörn University, Sweden) ‘Converting geospatial data is always annoying (for example, if I want to compare constituency data from 2000 with those of 2017, but the constituencies have changed since then). Some teams have already worked out more or less great solutions themselves. I would wish to build a good software for this tasks with experts for everyone to use.’ Marie-Louise Timcke (Journocode, Germany)

is always annoying (for example, if I want to compare constituency data from 2000 with those of 2017, but the constituencies have changed since then). Some teams have already worked out more or less great solutions themselves. I would wish to for this tasks with experts for everyone to use.’ Marie-Louise Timcke (Journocode, Germany) ‘We data journalists need more new skills. So I wish we can get more code skills, to work more with data scientist this year. It is also important to create a little more budget in this area. I would like to see projects that have more interactive and high public interest . I also hope to see more mobile-compatible data visualization .’ Pinar Dag (Dag Media, Turkey)

to work more with data scientist this year. It is also important to create a little in this area. I would like to see projects that have . I also hope to see more .’ Pinar Dag (Dag Media, Turkey) ‘I wish for data journalism to acually move society. Japan is not advanced at all due to a lack of skills and trust in old media (tv stations and newspapers).’ Yuichi Yazaki (Visualizing.jp, Japan)

2018 resolutions for newbies — Where to begin when learning data journalism?

‘I think it’s all about stories, tools you can learn, stories and working out which data to use with them, that’s the thing.’ Simon Rogers (Google, US)

‘I agree. If you focus too much on the techniques from the beginning, the journalistic direction of the stories suffers.’ Marie-Louise Timcke (Journocode, Germany)

‘My recommendation is to focus on asking the question you want answered before you even start your report. Then go about seeing how you could get, analyse and visualise the data and answer it in a concrete and clear way. It takes more time, but is well worth it.’ Walid Al-Saqaf (Södertörn University, Sweden)

‘Yep — just fishing is not really an option.’ Simon Rogers (Google, US)

‘I agree — stories are always the key, and I’d add that we should always be thinking about what’s the best way to tell a data-led story for your audience, instead of fellow data journalists, whether that’s a huge interactive project or a straight 400-word piece of copy.’ Ashley Kirk (The Telegraph, UK)

‘Knowing how to code and use other tools is helping a lot. But without the journalistic part, data journalism is just making fancy pictures. Interdisciplinary teams have a great advantage here. While the journalist is considering how best to show the topic from a journalistic point of view, the designer can think about how to design it so readers will get it at once, and so on.’ Marie-Louise Timcke (Journocode, Germany)

If you think we’ve missed something, do get in touch via the comments section.