Data visualizations are not boring anymore! (updated)

anymore*
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
* Now anyone can learn to love data
Data and data-visualizations are not boring
(last updated: November 3, 2014)

Should all journalists learn
data visualization, infographics skills?

No one can escape the massive
growth of data – especially journalists
Exponential growth in data
Social media data
Sensor data
Mobile-phone sensor data
Government data
Treasure trove of news and
story ideas for journalists
(much not possible in past)
News organizations hiring
more data editors
“Internet of Things” means
even more sensors!

Rate of growth in data is scary fast
But this presents
enormous opportunity
for journalists to
spot trends and
identify untold stories

Social media data is a big part of growth
(because we voluntarily share so much)
Tweets per day:
500 million
Source: Twitter
Source: Instagram
Source: Statistica
Facebook per day:
• likes per day: 4.5 billion
• items shared: 4.75 billion
• photos posted: 350 million
Instagram:
• photos per day: 58 million
• “likes” per day: 1.65 billion
Source: Facebook

Social media analysis tools
ﬁnd insights in all that data
}The “Social Cocktail”

Much can be understood by
visualizing social-media data

Data in action: Ebola doctor’s
movements from his mobile phone

A data visualization can
tell the story all by itself

A data visualization can
tell the story mostly by itself

Trends
More and more data becoming accessible
(exponential growth)
Data analysis tools available for everyone
(You don’t need a degree in statistics)
Data visualization tools continue to be
easier to use and more powerful

Great tools … Not easy to master
More powerful,
capable
Static or interactive
or video …
But expensive
Takes time to learn
Steep learning curve
Perhaps too much
for a busy multi-
tasking journalist

More-powerful, easy-to-use tools are here:
Still need Excel and Adobe applications?
Client app: free trial … Or use Tableau Public for free … Embed visualizations on your site

Example of interactive data
visualization using Tableau

Many easier-to-use tools are now 
not on desktop: Use them in the cloud

The problem when data visualization
tools are available for everyone
Pretty…
Nearly incomprehensible!!
Effective data visualization…
But a bit plain looking
Sources: Harvard Business Review, JunkCharts.com

But even if you’re not an expert,
you can learn the ropes
Bar Chart: As simple as you can get with data visualization
Flawed Much better!
No need to turn head to read type

What’s wrong with this map?
(So many things!)
via Alberto Cairo, University of Miami

This is much better

Please don’t use data to lie or
misrepresent the real story

A few data visualization tips
Not all big data is useful data … e.g., Twitter data may not help you
answer some questions, but will help on others
With social-media data, pick the best source(s) … Disqus comments or
Tumblr might be better ﬁt for what you seek; combining sources in “social
cocktail” may yield best insight
Tell a story! … Dont’ just create charts; use data and visualizations as the
means to telling a story
Presentation: How much data, complexity does reader need? … Keep
it as simple as possible in visualization
Data: Attribute your sources; link to source data
Don’t let your numbers lie! … Proper chart form; 0 baseline; etc.
Choose the right chart type for your data … Here’s a handy guide
Design: Don’t clutter with useless illustration
Design follows data!
Design: Keep color blindness in mind … 8-10% males; <1% females

ProPublica Nerds Blog 
http://www.propublica.org/nerds/ 
PP’s Tools and Style Guides 
https://github.com/propublica/
The Guardian Data Blog 
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog
Texas Tribune: The Data 
http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/
Information Aesthetics 
http://infosthetics.com
Chart Porn blog 
http://chartporn.org
Book: “The Functional Art: An introduction to information
graphics and visualization” - by Alberto Cairo
Good news data-viz resources

Steve Outing
Media futurist, Digital-news innovator | steveouting@gmail.com
http://mediadisruptus.com
http://www.slideshare.net/steveouting1

Data visualizations are not boring anymore! (updated)

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