BIG DATA AND JOURNALISM: HOW AMERICAN JOURNALISM IS ADOPTING THE USE OF BIG DATA

This research uses in-depth interviews with three data journalists from the Houston Chronicle and the New York Times in the United States to describe the role of data journalists, and to illustrate how and why they use big data in their stories. Data journalists possess a unique set of skills, including the ability to find and gather data and use that data to tell a compelling written story in a visually coherent way. Results from our interviews and research show as newspapers move to a digital format, the role of data journalists is becoming more essential, as are laws like the Freedom of Information Act, which enable journalists to request and use data to inform the public and hold accountable those in power.