To put it simply, Data Journalism is using data in journalism with a view to make news reports much more informative and analytical at the same time. Theoretically, data journalism is often defined as a type of journalism that includes the increased use of numerical data in the production and distribution of information in the digital era.

We can also say that data journalism is that particular type of journalism where data is the basis of presenting, analyzing, visualizing and telling a story.

Using data that is statistics is an efficient way of providing a deeper insight into a news story. and to highlight relevant data. As journalism is about disseminating information, using relevant data and presenting them vividly can enhance its impact on people highly.

In the present-day digital era, journalism is becoming more and more visual than ever. And disseminating information in much more visual and interactive ways using data visualization tools (e.g. tables, graphs, infographics, microsites, and maps) is increasing day by day.

Also, methodically presented data alongside a news story often reveals unknown or previously unnoticed facts or issues.

A data journalist can tell a complex news story much lucidly by using infographics as these can help make the story easy-to-understand by compare and contrast simultaneously making the story easy to the readers to relate.

Data journalism usually covers cybercrime reporting, computer assisted reporting, data-driven journalism, infographics, data visualization, interactive visualization, database journalism etc.

Useful Readings

Antonopoulos, Nikos and Karyotakis, Minos-Athanasios (2020). The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Mass Media and Society. Thousands Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. ISBN 9781483375533.
Houston, Brant (2015). Computer-Assisted Reporting: A Practical Guide, Fourth Edition. New York City: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-7656-4219-6.
Houston, Brant (2019). Data Journalism. In the International Encyclopedia of Journalism Studies. Wiley-Blackwell. doi:10.1002/9781118841570.iejs0119. ISBN 9781118841570.
Rogers, Simon (28 July 2011). "Data journalism at the Guardian: what is it and how do we do it?", The Guardian, London, retrieved 25 October 2012.