Models and Streams of Data Journalism

Abstract

This paper presents the initial results of a two-year research project, the Data Journalism Work Practices, which focuses on newsrooms in Finland, UK and US. Data journalism or data-driven journalism has been defined simply as journalism based on large data sets (or big data) Rogers 2011; Bounegru et al. 2012). According to our ongoing research on data journalism work methods, we can claim this has been an oversimplification. In this paper we will argue that all the brief definitions of data journalism lack nuances, and the multiple layers that contemporary data journalism already consists of in newsrooms. Based on six interviews of leading Finnish, American and British data journalists we can claim that there are already at least three different models for organizing data journalism work practices, and two main streams of data journalism, not just one.