When the Numbers Don’t Add Up: Accommodating Data Journalism in a Compact Journalism Programme

Abstract

Journalism educators recognize the need to prioritize teaching data journalism to ensure their students are industry-ready, particularly given the exponential growth in data, data availability, collection and analysis. However, research indicates that falling staff numbers and skill levels, lack of available sessional expertise and insufficient room in existing course curricula are among the problems faced in accommodating data journalism. This article outlines the efforts of Swinburne University of Technology’s journalism programme to meet these challenges and the solutions implemented. The programme staff sought expertise through their existing international contacts and within their own university but also reached beyond the silos of their own department and faculty into computer science disciplines. The outcome means students in a programme which promotes its practical nature and industry-experienced staff will be taught by staff with data analytics expertise but limited journalism experience. This has, however, opened up the possibilities for collaboration between the analytics and journalism staff members and a team approach to the teaching of data journalism.