Towards an epistemology of data journalism in the devolved nations of the United Kingdom: Changes and continuities in materiality, performativity and reflexivity

Abstract

This article outlines a general epistemological framework of data journalism in the devolved nations of the UK. By using an original model based on three conceptual lenses-materiality, performativity and reflexivity-this study examines the development of this form of journalism, the challenges it faces, and its particularities in the context of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This research therefore offers unique insights from semi-structured interviews with data journalists and data editors based at, or working as freelancers for, the mainstream news organisations of these regions. The results suggest that data journalism in these devolved nations displays a distinctive character just as much as it reinforces the norms and rituals of the legacy organisations that pioneered this practice. Whilst various models of data exploitation are tested, regional data journalists creatively circumvent generalised organisational struggles to lay the groundwork for their trade and professional community.

Hybrids, materiality, and black boxes: Concepts of actor‐network theory in data journalism research

“…Relations between humans and nonhumans are informed by processes of association and translation that can be “material as well as social, physical as well as semiotic” (Michael, , p. 41). The sociomateriality of technology—a concept increasingly mentioned in journalism studies (Borges‐Rey, , ; Bucher, )—comprises scripts

“or rules of use: in order to get them to ‘work', particular capacities and skills need to be in place. In other words, human comportment needs to adapt to the demands of the technology” (Michael, , p. 41).

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“…Second, the interplay between economics and innovation would examine how resources constrain the adaption of technology. Time, personnel, material, or financial resources have been identified as constraints of data journalism through in a number of studies (Borges‐Rey, , ; De Maeyer et al, ; Fink & Anderson, ; Lowrey & Hou, ; Parasie, ). Third, by understanding journalism as a field , power struggles (of social, economic, and cultural nature) within the field and interactions amidst other fields could be explored.…”

“…Lastly, Anderson (, p. 1016) proposes technology as a distinct perspective that cuts across all other lenses. This includes questions as to how journalistic values are mediated through evidentiary digital artefacts (see Borges‐Rey, , ; Lowrey & Hou, ; Parasie, ) or the hybridity of newsrooms.…”

“…The materiality of data thereby carries journalistic values such as transparency and scrutiny. Data artefacts are often found to be considered facilitating means, making apparent human actors' control over nonhuman actants or “transactional objects” (Borges‐Rey, , p. 15) used as evidence for knowledge claims or for data‐driven output, therefore suppressing “data's capacity for secondary agency” (p. 15), vindicating Lewis and Westlund's () conceptualisation of technological actants.…”

“…Borges‐Rey () found traces of computational thinking manifested primarily through the output of non‐linear and interactive formats (Borges‐Rey, , p. 841). At the same time, and in contrast to theorisations of data journalists' hybrid nature, interviewees' articulated “a subtle aversion to adopting computational thinking” (Borges‐Rey, , p. 14) while acknowledging its importance for data‐driven newswork. Another approach is presented by Bucher () who explores computational thinking through the cultural perspective of discourse.…”