How data journalism is changing investigative reporting
A chat with Juliet Ferguson
by Barbara L. L. Maimone*
[DIG is taking place in Riccione from June 1st to June 3rd, 2018. More info here: http://www.dig-awards.org/]
In journalism, data can change a simple report to a story worth telling, giving colour, background and an explanation — revealing the ‘why’ rather than just the ‘what’. Data journalism provides another source for finding stories and allows the telling of the story through a range of techniques.
We met up with Juliet Ferguson, journalist and photographer. Juliet has taught data journalism at City, University of London and the London College of Communication. She is also a trainer at the Centre for Investigative Journalism based at Goldsmiths University of London.
We discussed with her how data journalism is changing investigative reporting in the age of social media and the relationship between the two.
First of all, thanks for joining us. How would you define data journalism in relationship with investigative reporting?
Juliet: Technology has made it quicker and easier to find stories, and there is a lot more data around than previously. Data journalism can help you fill space without needing too many data skills, without going for too much detail, the quick and easy stories — how things compare to last year, what’s gone up/down, what’s the most/least. But then you’ve got the more investigative, longer form of data journalism looking at why things happen.
Data journalism in this format has much closer links with the social sciences.
Imagine a reporter, when a bridge collapses: he or she will report just that, the bridge collapsed and the number of casualties. But a data/investigative journalist will look at the why it collapsed: when was it last inspected it? Was it inspected regularly? If there were warning signs before the collapse, cracks appearing, concerns form engineers, things like that, then maybe even enough attention can be drawn to the bridge, enough pressure put on the authorities to repair it and to stop it collapsing at all.
That’s a good example! Nowadays, it seems we are much more focused on data journalism than we were in the past. Would you say data journalism has always existed and been “part” of some investigations?
As long as people have collected information, made lists, done comparisons, data have existed and as long as there’s been data, there’s potential stories. The oldest example I’ve found came from The Guardian in 1821, so yes it has been around for quite a while.
Now, looking closely at the relationship between data journalism and investigative reporting, can investigative reporting exist without data journalism?
Yes, it is possible. However, data journalism has given mainstream, standard reporters an investigative tool that can enhance their journalism, their storytelling skills. This means, data journalism is often the first step into investigative reporting. To go back to our example, you may look for a quick and easy story as when was this bridge last inspected, and then find out that another bridge hasn’t been inspected either. So, chances are that, suddenly, you’ll go into an investigation; something for which you’ll need a combination of investigative and data skills. I think on a basic level it’s good not to separate the two disciplines, data journalism is part of investigative reporting, it’s a tool you would use to investigate things further.
“As long as there’s data, there’s potential stories.”
So, what are pros and cons of such a relationship?
Well, data journalism can give more depth to stories, it adds colour and background and it gives journalists something further to work on. As for the downside, both investigative and data journalism can take time. It’s not just a question of using data set; you have to speak to people and experts, you have to look at the bridge, take pictures yourself with the risk that there might be nothing at the end of it. But another negative aspect regards technical skills. If you want to find your story you do need to be happy using spreadsheets, and you need to keep notes and material to go back and check data. Plus, there are high expectations from editors as to what can actually be achieved given the time and financial constraints.
It seems a combination of data and investigative journalism will make things difficult to work on as a range of different skills is required. But, do journalists working with data and investigations need data experts for their stories?
No, I don’t think so. You just need to have an overview of what’s needed and know the person to talk to. I mean, like every journalist you’re not going to be knowledgeable over all things. So, if you’re doing a story on coffee shops you need to speak to the guys that work there and ask them, for instance, if they’re being paid less than the minimum wage. Having said that, you do need to understand the basics: spreadsheets, first of all. Increasingly, data journalists, who have seen themselves as pure data journalists, are starting to work with computer experts who are not necessarily journalists.
Do you believe new technologies are changing the way data/investigative journalists work?
I think social media can make investigative journalists slightly lazier: if you need to do background checks, the information is in your laptop and ready for you on the internet. But, technology is also making things a lot quicker and accessible. Through new technologies, data are accessible to everyone: look at citizen journalists at a local level, for instance. If they’ve got the skills, they can get the information they’ve been looking for a local issue and spread the story online.
How likely is that data journalism and investigative reporting will become one single branch of journalism?
I actually think it’s not going to happen. Going back to history, because computers were so slow, and they required time and particular skills, investigative journalists needed to work with computer experts to get stories out. Now, because of the advances of technology, investigative reporters can work and use tools themselves without the aid of any experts. Data journalists will continue to work with numbers and push their skills in more technical directions, using tools such as R and Python as more sophisticated ways of finding stories. Nobody can be a specialist in everything!
How’s the future for data journalism and investigative reporting?
On a local level the future is starting to look a bit brighter. But for the mainstream media, unfortunately, the time it takes to do investigations, the pressure of newsrooms to just get things out makes it a lot tougher. There’s more data, transparency and computing power than ever before, but we need people to put the work in and find the stories. On a positive note, finding and telling stories is no longer just restricted to journalists, anyone can access this data and, with the right skills, find and publish their stories.
* Barbara L. L. Maimone is currently doing the International Journalism MA at City, University of London. She previously took a Law degree and she believes journalism is the way to give voice to the voiceless. Barbara is the editor of Doppio Standard, a famous Italian blog about gender stereotypes. She’s also interested in environmental issues, geopolitics, security and crime. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn.
