The Analytics Power Hour #092: A Special Report - Data Journalism Meets Business Analytics with Walt Hickey
Jul 3, 2018
Walt Hickey, founder of the NumLock Newsletter and former chief culture writer at fivethirtyeight.com, dives into the intersection of data journalism and business analytics. He discusses how effective storytelling can transform raw data into relatable insights, emphasizing the balance between technical detail and engaging narratives. The conversation also covers the significance of data literacy, the challenges of communicating complex information, and the unique power of newsletters in fostering audience connection. Expect humor and insightful commentary on ad fraud and statistical methods too!
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Walt Hickey's Path to Data Journalism
- Walt Hickey combined applied math and news media by working for the student newspaper while studying applied mathematics.
- This led to internships at OpenSecrets and exploring data journalism.
Data Journalism's Potential
- Data journalism can change power structures by empowering those with limited access to tell important stories.
- Reaching people where they are, even with lighthearted topics, can increase engagement with data.
Data Storytelling Approach
- Start with a question and a theory when approaching a data story, but be open to the data challenging your assumptions.
- Use data to build an argument and support your conclusions, not to definitively prove something.
