How to Find stories in Data: channelling our inner journo

Channel our inner journo, uncover stories that matter! Whether digging into data or interviewing people to get the real story, journalism is about more than just delivering facts—it’s about finding the truth and sharing it in a way that resonates.

What might a job advert for a journalist look like, and what skills are they looking for?

Job Title: Journalist

We’re looking for an enthusiastic journalist to produce timely and accurate news stories. The successful candidate will be a skilled writer, capable of both informing and engaging our readers. You will conduct research, interview sources, and uncover key information to write compelling articles.

Key Responsibilities:

•Conduct research and investigate leads to find newsworthy stories
•Write clear, engaging, and fact-checked articles
•Interview key sources and gather first-hand information
•Stay updated on current events and emerging news trends
•Work closely with editors and other journalists to meet deadlines

Requirements:

•Proven experience as a journalist or reporter
•Excellent writing, research, and communication skills
•Ability to meet strict deadlines and work in a fast-paced environment
•Proficiency with MS Office and online research tools
•A degree in journalism or a related field is preferred

ChatGPT

This format provides a clear outline of what is expected in the role and what skills are needed. You can find further examples on job listing platforms like Workable, TargetJobs.

Finding Stories

Data isn’t just a bunch of numbers—it’s full of stories waiting to be told. To find these stories, we need to think like journalists. Journalists dig deep, ask interesting questions, and reveal the narratives behind the facts. In the same way, we can explore our data thoughtfully and turn the insights into a story that connects with our audience.

1. Start with a Question

Just like journalists start with a key question, it helps if we have one in mind when looking at our data. What are we trying to figure out? Maybe we’re curious about why a key performance metric is slipping or what’s driving the success of another. A clear question keeps us focused on the data that matters.

📢 Stay Curious
Approaching data with curiosity opens up new possibilities. Our questions can guide us, and we can follow wherever the data leads. Often, the best insights come when we allow ourselves to explore.

2. Find the Human Angle

Great stories connect with people, and our data can too. We can look for the human side behind the numbers. How does the data reflect real-life situations? What impact is it having on people?

For instance, instead of just noting that a particular performance metric is up, we might dig a little deeper. What’s causing it, and why? Maybe there’s a shift in process or a specific item that’s performing better.

📢 Focus on the Human Story

Every statistic has a story behind it. Our job is to find that story and make the data relatable. Connect the dots between the numbers and the real-world experiences they represent.

3. Spot Patterns and Anomalies

With our question and human angle in mind, start diving into the data. Look for patterns that could reveal a story—trends over time, relationships between variables, or data points that stand out. These are the clues that will shape our narrative.

For instance, if you notice a sudden drop in a performance metric, don’t just record it—dig into why it’s happening. Is it linked to a recent process change or specific location? Could it be due to external factors like seasonality?

📢 Dig Deeper

Just like a journalist chasing a lead, dig into the details. Don’t stop at the surface—explore the underlying causes and connections. The deeper we go, the stronger our story will be.

4. Verify our Findings

Like a journalist would fact-check their work, it’s important that we make sure our data is accurate before sharing our data driven stories. Double-check our sources and ensure our analysis is solid. This builds trust and helps avoid any misunderstandings.

📢 Be Accurate

Accuracy is everything. Check our data, validate our conclusions, and make sure our story is rock solid. Our credibility depends on it.

5. Craft Your Narrative

Every good story has a clear beginning, middle, and end, and our data story should too. We can start by setting the stage with some context and our main question, guide our audience through the insights, and wrap up with what those findings mean and what should happen next.

A smooth flow helps people stay engaged and makes it easier to understand the story behind the data.

📢 Keep It Simple
A clear, logical structure helps our audience follow along and makes even complex data easier to digest.

6. Use Visuals to Support Your Story

Just like we consume our news stories and articles, a relevant photo or visual brings stories to life, we use visuals to make our data easier to understand. A well crafted chart can highlight key points and make our story more engaging.

Choose visuals that clearly support the narrative. Whether it’s a line chart showing growth or a bar chart highlighting category segments, the right visual can make our story more impactful.

📢 Use Visuals Wisely

Just like a journalist uses images to enhance a story, use charts and graphs to bring the data to life. Make sure each visual adds value to the narrative.

7. Ask “So What?”

Journalists think about why their story matters. In data storytelling, we should do the same. What’s the significance of the findings? Why should our audience care? This question forces us to think beyond the data itself and focus on its impact.

📢 Keep It Relevant

Always connect our data story back to real-world implications. Our audience should walk away not just informed, but also understanding why our findings matter and what they can do about it.

TL;DR

Finding the story in data isn’t just about technical skills; it’s about thinking creatively. By starting with the right question, focusing on the human side, digging into patterns, making sure our findings are accurate, and crafting a clear narrative, we can turn raw data into a compelling story. Like a journalist uncovering the story behind the facts, we can reveal the insights behind the numbers and share a data driven story that drives action and understanding with our audience.

Thanks for reading, as always love to hear your thoughts

Adam

First published on the original coffeetableviz WordPress site.