This is a practical presentation from NODA 2017, the Nordic Data conference, this year held in Odense. The presentation discusses tools (specifically Datawrapper) and general editorial approaches to data-driven journalism. The presentation advocates a pragmatic approach - based on searching for data, questioning, visualisation and written texts. This approach could provide opportunities specifically for regional/local media. Be aware that as this is a presentation from the people behind Datawrapper the tool is discussed and presented on a number of slides in this presentation.

1. Odense, Denmark - January 27-28, 2017
Data-driven journalism,
every day
Mirko Lorenz, Cofounder and CEO

2. Background
Daily #ddj
Next level
Three key points:
Note: This is a slightly edited version of a talk given at NODA
2017 in Odense (Jan. 2017). Changes were made to
make the presentation easier to understand when the
spoken narrative is missing.

3. Datawrapper -
background and
development so far
Part 1

4. Datawrapper is a web-based
visualisation tool, providing a
workflow to create responsive charts
and maps.
The tool aims to focus on quality and
is optimised for use in newsrooms.

5. D3.JS and other visualization libraries are
great, but hard to use for journalists...When we started in 2011,
the goal was to close a gap…

6. …because even
with many new
options to create
charts most
journalists simply
are not trained to
work with code.

7. https://www.datawrapper.de/gallery

8. http://dataviz.tools
Positive feedback keeps us going.

9. In September 2016
Datawrapper
crossed the mark
of 1 billion chart views.

10. No outside investors
No debt
Popular in newsrooms
worldwide
Datawrapper
today:

11. How Datawrapper works,
in four main steps.
Quick
Walkthrough

12. User Dashboard:
All drafts and charts
in one place.
Direct access to
blog & tutorials.

13. Importing data via copi & paste.
This helps to clean the data for
visualisation.

14. Step 2 is to check and transform
the data.

15. Select the output locale here
Example:
Choose the output locale
and all numbers
change ad once.

16. Output locale provides
an easy way to transform
your numbers to the right
format.

17. Click on the column1Select the options here2
Advanced
options:
Transform
numbers.

18. Divide, round or
add a $/€ sign.

19. Select colors.

20. Publish…

21. Part 2
Daily data-driven
journalism:
Have we even
started?

22. Example of one
chart telling a
story of notable
change.
Source: Journalism That Stands Apart (New York Times, January 2017) Link

23. Data-driven journalism…

24. A workflow for daily
data search, filtering and
publishing in different ways.
This is how Simon Rogers
created the widely noted
Guardian Data Blog.
Source:
https://simonrogers.net/2013/01/27/a-data-
journalism-workflow/

25. Source:
https://simonrogers.net/2013/01/27/a-data-
journalism-workflow/
Not every data story is a complex interactive.
There are multiple options to publish data,
including simply making it more public.
Even raw data can be very helpful for a community,
if put into context in the right way.

26. Source: http://atlas.qz.com
Another good example:
Atlas by vox.com is demonstrates the
value of constant, daily
digging for data to enrich the story.
Why is hardly any regional/local
medium working in this way?

27. Great current example
how powerful data can be.
If one economist from Oxford University
can start something like this, what keeps media companies from doing the same?

28. „Our World in Data“ by Max Roser:
Putting things in comparison,
for better understanding.

29. NZZ builds
it’s own toolbox.

32. The Wirecutter shows
how we can and should create value for users.

34. Building trust is through being trustable.
Announce your intention, then stick to it.
The Wirecutter makes money through affiliate links.
A bit more background here.

35. Suggestions towards
local, regional
data-driven journalism
Why not combine Quartz Atlas,
„Our world in Data“ and The Wirecutter -
for the benefit of local newsrooms?

36. We need this, because often statistics
remain difficult to understand.

37. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/19/crisis-of-statistics-big-data-democracy
By ignoring statistics and failing to
turn hidden facts into comprehensible stories
we do damage to a source of truth…

38. Track regional numbers.
Track numbers better than officials.
Transform the numbers.
Reduce need to search.
Show what is not known.
Be there when decisions are made.
Do the math, because no one else does it
for many people.
How to do better

39. Source of article:
The Guardian
Example

40. Smart way to engage
with the reader.
Source: New York Times

41. Everyday I write the book
Start doing daily data journalism.
It is not a question of budget,
it’s a quest for depth and quality.

42. One search technique every journalist can use:
Combine Google search with „data“, then look at results under „Images“.

43. Another way:
Be on the lookout when the statistical office
(any) publishes new data.
ChangeDetection is just one service which
can be used for that.

44. Visualizing data
No map, no interactive - but well
done, basic charts instead. When
working with charts simplicity is
often the better choice.

48. Archie Tse: Why we are doing fewer interactives. Presentation from Malofiej 2016 (PDF)
The New York Times
thinks twice before
starting a big interactive
data project - although they
know how to it.
Why is simplicity often better?

49. Nobody will look at a
line chart? Think again.
This is the rise
of beer prices
at Octoberfest
Munich.

50. Provide good
comparison
A key principle,
demonstrated in
three simple charts

51. http://www.businessinsider.com/the-future-of-digital-2013-2013-11?op=1

52. http://www.businessinsider.com/the-future-of-digital-2013-2013-11?op=1

54. Power of
Proximity
Talk about data
close to home.

55. http://interaktiv.morgenpost.de/m29
Great story by Berliner Morgenpost:
Following social, political changes along a bus route in Berlin.

56. How prices for rent have risen,
specifically in city areas with many
low-priced flats (to the right).

57. Simple tools can help to
get the story right.
Download PDF

58. Datawrapper
New features
added in 2016

66. Summary

67. Better tools
Do the math (for everyone)
Collaborate better

68. Mirko Lorenz
Cofounder and CEO
mirko@datawrapper.de
http://www.datawrapper.de
@mirkolorenz
Thanks.