Lanosga publishes article analyzing the growing data journalism subfield
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Gerry Lanosga, alongside Lindita Camaj of the University of Florida and Jason Martin of DePaul University, inspects the growing data journalism subfield in his recent article, “Testing a Typology of Data Journalism: Professional and Epistemological Orientations Across 68 Countries.” The article was published in Journalism Practice on Aug. 28.
This article analyzes the growing data journalism subfield using data gathered from a cross-national survey of journalists in 68 countries. The study makes two contributions to the literature: first, it offers a test of a typological framework for categorizing data journalists based on their work routines and conditions; second, it explores similarities and differences between journalists working in Global South settings and those in the Global North.
The analysis provides empirical support for conceptual claims of contrasting paradigms revolving around traditional journalistic practices and more computational approaches to using data in news production. However, rather than aligning neatly with one or the other professional or epistemological paradigm, data journalists tend to employ a wide range of practices, with variations in the degree of adoption of individual approaches contingent on specific work contexts. Journalists in Global South countries, for instance, are likelier than their Global North counterparts to adopt strategies such as using nonexpert sources of information to produce data-based stories.
Overall, the data suggests a maturing global data journalism field characterized by a broad diffusion of standardized practices featuring some regional variation likely tied to differing data access regimes.