Data Visualization in Scandinavian Newsrooms: Emerging Trends in Journalistic Visualization Practices

TLDR

The visualization of numeric data is becoming an important element in journalism. In this article, we present an interview study investigating data visualization practices in Scandinavian newsrooms. The study gathered insights from editorial leaders, data journalists, developers, and graphic designers across 10 major news organizations in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark about visualization practices and experiences. The study found that multi‑skilled specialist groups, technological innovation, and a mobile‑first mantra drive rapid development of journalistic data visualization, but tensions exist over the use of complex exploratory visualizations and the role of ordinary journalists in chart production.

Abstract

Abstract The visualization of numeric data is becoming an important element in journalism. In this article, we present an interview study investigating data visualization practices in Scandinavian newsrooms. Editorial leaders, data journalists, developers and graphic designers in 10 major news organizations in Norway, Sweden and Denmark provide information for the study on a range of issues concerning visualization practices and experiences. The emergence of multi-skilled specialist groups as well as innovation in technology and the ‘mobile first mantra’ are identified as important factors in the fast-developing practices of journalistic data visualization. Elements of tension and negotiation are revealed for issues concerning the role and effect of complex exploratory data visualizations and concerning the role of ordinary journalists in the production of charts and graphs.