Data for Journalism: Between Transparency and Accountability

Description

Considering the interactions between developments in open data and data journalism, Data for Journalism: Between Transparency and Accountability offers an interdisciplinary account of this complex and uncertain relationship in a context of tightening the control over data and weighing transparency against privacy. As data has brought both promise and disruptive changes to societies, the relationship between transparency and accountability has become complicated, and data journalism is practised alongside the contradictory needs of opening up and protecting data. In addition to exploring the benefits of data for journalism, this book addresses the uncertain nature of data and the obstacles preventing data from being fluently accessed and properly used for data reporting. Because of these obstacles, it argues individual data journalists play a decisive role in using data for journalism and facilitating the circulation of data. Frictions in data access, newsrooms’ resources and cultures and data journalists’ skill and data literacy levels determine the degree to which journalism can benefit from data, and these factors potentially exacerbate digital inequalities between newsrooms in different countries and with different resources. As such, the author takes an international perspective, drawing on empirical research and cases from around the world, including countries such as the UK, the US, Germany, Sweden, Australia, India, China and Japan. Introducing a new dimension to the study of developments in journalism and the role of journalism in society, Data for Journalism will be of interest to academics and researchers in the fields of journalism and the sociology of (big and open) data. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of figures List of tables List of abbreviations Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Data as a source of information Understanding data The abundance of data and its benefits The uncertainty and messiness of data Concerns and challenges Comparing data with traditional sources of information 2 Access to data Accessing open data in the public sector Collaborating with data holders in the private sector FOI practices and the undisclosed secrets Alternative ways of getting data Struggles and pushing for data of quality and openness 3 Using data in journalism From data teams to lone wolves: the uneven development of data journalism in the world What is data used for in journalism? Handling the problems of data and potential issues in data reporting Explaining the variations 4 Opening up data from news reporting Data journalism as alternative data producers and holders Sharing is caring Why choosing not to publish data Data as financial resources Conclusion: The four roles of data journalists in the circulation of data References Index