Estándares de calidad en el periodismo de datos: fuentes, narrativas y visualizaciones en los Data Journalism Awards 2019

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of the most internationally recognized data journalism projects, with the aim of providing an in-depth snapshot of the current situation as well as identifying the common elements in the exercise of this journalistic practice. A content analysis is carried out to dissect 42 projects nominated for the Data Journalism Awards 2019, which were selected by the Global Editors Network for complying with the quality standards of this specialty. The pieces are examined from three different perspectives: the features of the story, the data, and the visualizations used. Among other findings, the results show the transversality of this treatment technique, which can be shaped to be applied in any subject area, and the prevalence of topics such as health, science, and the environment, partly due to circumstances related to the climate emergency together with the current environmental challenges. There is a wide variety of sources, but a strong dependence on documentaries from governments or public offices (59.52%) can be observed as well as widespread use of infographics as a form of visualization (45.24%), generally presented as scrollytelling. It is also deduced that quality is conditioned by the nature of the sources, the innovative character of the analysis carried out, the way in which the information is compiled, and the complexity of the visualizations involved. Data journalism is an ever-changing journalistic practice, hence the necessity to rethink its quality parameters as it evolves as a specialization to adapt them to the new forms of materializing information. Resumen Este estudio examina las características de los trabajos de periodismo de datos con mayor reconocimiento internacional, con la intención de ofrecer una radiografía actual y extraer elementos comunes en el ejercicio de esta práctica periodística. Mediante un análisis de contenido se diseccionan 42 proyectos nominados a los Data Journalism Awards 2019, seleccionados por la Global Editors Network por cumplir estándares de calidad en el marco de esta especialidad. Las piezas se examinan desde tres perspectivas: las propiedades de la historia, los datos y las visualizaciones empleadas. Entre otras constataciones, los resultados evidencian la transversalidad de esta técnica de tratamiento de la actualidad, moldeable para ser empleada en cualquier área temática, y el predominio de temas como la salud, la ciencia y el medioambiente, debido en parte a circunstancias relacionadas con la urgencia climática y los desafíos medioambientales establecidos. Existe variedad de fuentes pero se detecta una fuerte dependencia de las documentales procedentes de gobiernos u oficinas públicas (59,52%) y un uso mayoritario de las infografías como forma de visualización (45,24%), presentadas generalmente en forma de scrollytelling. Asimismo, se deduce que la calidad está condicionada por la naturaleza de las fuentes, el carácter innovador del análisis estadístico realizado, la forma de recopilar la información y la complejidad de las visualizaciones incorporadas. El periodismo de datos es una práctica periodística en constante cambio, por eso resulta necesario repensar los parámetros de calidad a medida que evoluciona como especialización para adaptarlos a las nuevas formas de materialización de la información.

Las visualizaciones como parte fundamental del periodismo de datos. Análisis de la tipología, la interactividad y las funciones

“…This research is of a univariate and two-dimensional descriptive nature and aims to dissect the visualisations in the quality data journalism publications. In line with previous works (Loosen, Reimer, and Schmidt, 2017;Ojo and Heravi, 2018;Young, Hermida, and Fulda, 2018;Córdoba-Cabús, 2020), a content analysis was applied as a methodological tool to the stories nominated for the 2019 Data Journalism Awards. These awards were organised by the Global Editors Network and have been recognised since 2012 as the highest international award in this specialisation to evaluate both the work with figures and the form and content of the project (Global Editors Network, 2019).…”

“…The visualisations were classified by combining the typologies used in different studies (Wijk, 2005;Segel and Heer, 2010;Knight, 2015;Loosen, Reimer and Schmidt, 2015;Tandoc and Soo-Kwang, 2017;Stalph, 2017;Young, Hermida, and Fulda, 2018;Córdoba-Cabús, 2018;Córdoba-Cabús, 2020), to frame any visualisation in some of the following options:…”

The binomial of interaction and visualization in digital news media: consolidation, standardization and future challenges

“…The authors of the items decide on both the content to be presented and the hierarchy with which the interface is organized. Some methods of constructing an interactive narrative, such as parallax scrolling (Freixa et al, 2014;Córdoba-Cabús, 2020), are very well-established, have proven to be effective in different areas and specialities (Tulloch;Ramon, 2017) and provide the basis for many large-format items (Hiippala, 2017;Dowling, 2019), also referred to as literary journalism (Jacobson;Marino;Gutsche, 2015) or narrative journalism (Van-Krieken; Sanders, 2019).…”

Use of Infographics by Students in Business Degrees

“…An infographic is a visualization that offers a combination of image, text and chart [1]. This enables grouping STEAM competencies in the same task while improving the communication skills of students.…”

“…Another advantage of an infographic is that visually transmitting important information facilitates the reader's understanding of the message even when it is supported by scientific rigor [2]. If its power to illustrate more complete narratives is considered, the reason why its use has increased in the last decade to communicate many different topics, such as data about health, environment and sciences, is clear [1].…”