In this presentation, we give the basics of telling stories with data. From collecting and analyzing data to turning that into a narrative and visualizing it, we provide a primer on making infographics and other data-based visualizations. We also offer reviews of free online tools that make infographics accessible to anyone—even non-designers and non-programmers.

1. 1 | Data Visualization for Journalists
Data Visualization for
Non-Programmers
Jenny Karn | @JennyKarn
Beutler Ink
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2. 2 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
What you’ll know
at the end…
The best practices for data visualization
The best platforms for presentation
The best free tools to visualize data
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3. 3 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Why Visualize?

4. 4 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Why Visualize Data?
AggressivenessSize
13,000 lbs
Speed
25 mph
MAMMOTH SABER-TOOTHED CAT
Size
400 lbs
Aggressiveness
Speed
30 mph

5. 5 | Data Visualization for Journalists
From Numbers
to Narrative
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6. 6 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
GRAPHIC BY BEUTLER INK FOR KINVEY
4,537
11,127
1
0
862
20,574
9
19,316
10,523
15,630
RESTERAUNT
FASION
CAMARA
NEWZ
HOTWLS
APP DISCOVERY GOOGLE PLAY'S SUPERIOR SEARCH FUNCTION MAKES IT
EASIER TO FIND APPS — EVEN WITH A KEYWORD MISSPELLED.
PEOPLE LOVE TO COMPARE THE APP STORE TO GOOGLE PLAY, BUT IT SEEMS THESE COMPARISONS ALWAYS
FOCUS ON THE SAME METRICS—NUMBER OF APPS, RATE OF GROWTH, SALES. IN OTHER WORDS, IMPORTANT
BUT PREDICTABLE METRICS. SO WE DECIDED TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN AND VISUALIZE UNCONVENTIONAL
COMPARISONS OF THE TWO MOST DOMINANT MOBILE MARKETPLACES.
&
UNCOMMON COMPARISONS OF THE APP STORE VS. GOOGLE PLAY
124.6
36.25
29
68.4
73.2
18.7
6
84.62
14
129.7
44%
13.65
30
22.83
42
73%
17.4%
16
3.875
13.1
27.3
6%
72.62
83
297
28
7
24.58
82%
29
10
59.44
15.89
14
20.2
16%
2
30.95
94%
27
74
28%
5
46
10.59
18
53.2
40.5

7. 7 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn

8. 8 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn

9. Data Sources
& Types
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10. 10 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Data You’ve Collected
Data Somebody Else Collected
that You’d Like to Highlight
Search & Social Data
Other
Data Sources

11. 11 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Data Sources
Data You’ve Collected
Data Somebody Else Collected
that You’d Like to Highlight
Search & Social Data
Other

12. 12 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Data Sources
Data You’ve Collected
Data Somebody Else Collected
that You’d Like to Highlight
Search & Social Data
Other

13. 13 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Data Sources
Data You’ve Collected
Data Somebody Else Collected
that You’d Like to Highlight
Search & Social Data
Other ? ??

14. 14 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
What Does Your
Data Say?
How Much /
What Percent
Trends
Correlations
Geographic

15. 15 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarnCATEGORY BY CATEGORY ANDROID'S OPEN AND CUSTOMIZABLE PLATFORM HAS
TRIGGERED A SIZEABLE CATEGORY OF PERSONALIZATION APPS.
THE BIG PICTURE DESPITE A SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER MARKET SHARE, GOOGLE
PLAY LAGS IN GENERATING REVENUE FOR DEVELOPERS.
$5.1 MILLION
GOOGLE PLAY
MARKET SHAREAPPLE APP STORE
MARKET SHARE
74.4
18.2
$1.1 MILLION
DAILY REVENUE
$5.1 MILLION
DAILY REVENUE
PEOPLE LOVE TO COMPARE THE APP STORE TO GOOGLE PLAY, BUT IT SEEMS THESE COMPARISONS ALWAYS
FOCUS ON THE SAME METRICS—NUMBER OF APPS, RATE OF GROWTH, SALES. IN OTHER WORDS, IMPORTANT
BUT PREDICTABLE METRICS. SO WE DECIDED TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN AND VISUALIZE UNCONVENTIONAL
COMPARISONS OF THE TWO MOST DOMINANT MOBILE MARKETPLACES.
&
UNCOMMON COMPARISONS OF THE APP STORE VS. GOOGLE PLAY
What Does Your
Data Say?
How Much /
What Percent
Trends
Correlations
Geographic

16. 16 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
What Does Your
Data Say?
How Much /
What Percent
Trends
Correlations
Geographic

17. 17 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
What Does Your
Data Say?
How Much /
What Percent
Trends
Correlations
Geographic

18. 18 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
What Does Your
Data Say?
How Much /
What Percent
Trends
Correlations
Geographic

19. 19 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
What Does Your
Data Say?
How Much /
What Percent
Trends
Correlations
Geographic

20. Getting Started
with Data Viz
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21. 21 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Getting
Started
Identify your goals
Pinpoint your audience
Align your content to
goals and audience
Structure your story!
TWEETS
PRESENTATIONS
FACEBOOK SHARES
DOWNLOADS
VIEWS
EMBEDS
COMMENTS
CLICK
THROUGHS
EMAILS

22. 22 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Getting
Started
Identify your goals
Pinpoint your audience
Align your content to
goals and audience
Structure your story!
OLD FAITHFUL ERUPTIONS
ERUPTION DURATION (MINS)
WAITTIMEBETWEENERUPTIONS(MINS)
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
50
60
70
80
90

23. 23 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Getting
Started
Identify your goals
Pinpoint your audience
Align your content to
goals and audience
Structure your story!
PRESENTATION
INFOGRAPHIC
SOCIAL GRAPHIC
EBOOK/WHITE PAPER
SNAPSHOT
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24. 24 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Getting
Started
Identify your goals
Pinpoint your audience
Align your content to
goals and audience
Structure your story!

25. 25 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
This Isn’t Easy
Who has skills in data analysis,
data visualization AND design?
Not everyone is blessed with the
innate ability to make brilliant data
visualizations.

26. These Tools
Can Help
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27. 27 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
URL
www.infoactive.co
Description
infographic builder that can create
interactive visualizations
Price
starts at $12 per month
Interface Usability
Results Customization

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Allows you to create interactive
infographics, not just static images
Allows raw data uploads
Limited, though high quality options
in the free trial

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URL
www.infogr.am
Description
Infographic creation tool
Price
Free with options to upgrade
Interface Usability
Results Customization

30. 30 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Allows data (live or static) uploads
Templates are very easy to customize and
update
Does not allow downloads of finished
projects or photo additions without
upgrading to paid version

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URL
www.piktochart.com
Description
Free infographic creation tool
Price
Free with option to upgrade
Interface Usability
Results Customization

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Very helpful website with great tutorial
when you start your first graphic
Allows data uploads (live or static)
Allows you to easily save and download
finished image (watermark required in free
version)
Easy to create graphics
Lots of image options and an intuitive
search feature

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URL
www.emaze.com
Description
A presentation tool with some chart
functionality
Price
Free with options to upgrade
Interface Usability
Results Customization

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Lots of templates to choose from
Easy to add charts to slide formats
Does not allow data uploads or even
pasting data into interface

35. 35 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
URL
www.haikudeck.com
Description
A free presentation tool that includes
some chart functionality
Price
Free with options to upgrade
Interface Usability
Results Customization

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A free presentation tool
Impressive results but time-
consuming
No templates

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URL
www.canva.com
Description
graphic design tool
Price
Free with options to buy premium
photos + fonts
Interface Usability
Results Customization

38. 38 | Data Visualization for Journalists @JennyKarn
Although this site does not
offer any chart functionality, it’s
such a powerful graphic design
tool that it’s worth mentioning
The site offers hundreds
of templates for social,
presentations, posters, and
more
You can easily upload and
integrate your own content

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Free Fonts
Font Squirrel
Lost Type Co-op
Behance
MyFonts
Font Fabric
Ultralinx
dafont.com

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Photo Editing
darktable
Fotor
Pixlr
SumoPaint
PicMonkey
Picadilo

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Let’s keep in touch!
Email
jenny@beutlerink.com
Twitter
@jennykarn
Co-Founder & VP of Content
@BeutlerInk
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