I recently read Michael Blastland’s “Tips for Working with Numbers in the News.” According to Blastland, data journalism can be overwhelming at first glance, but it should be treated like any other form of journalism. One should stay vigilant and enjoy the research and writing process. Likewise, Blastland notes that open-mindedness is key to producing a good story and that one should think about what the data represents – how can numbers tell a story. Just as a good photo or video can tell a story, a coherent set of data can be powerful in its own way.
I’ve learned quite a bit from Blastland’s writing, and I have just scratched the surface of data journalism. First, I learned to let the data speak for you, rather than forcing it to work. Data visualizations won’t be efficient in every story, but when they are, they can be powerful at conveying a specific idea or concept. Secondly, be skeptical, not critical. I learned that when approaching data, I should be observant. Most importantly, I learned that I should treat data journalism the same was I treat any form of the discipline, being alert and pragmatic.
TRENTON STRAIGHT 