Data visualization by Sabina Vagifgizi

DATA VISUALIZATIONTime to tell a story with data, and make it much more visual.

What is the database?• It helps to reduce information into small pieces and then

allows users to relate those pieces back to each other in a dynamic and flexible way.

• Journalists acquire data in 4 primary ways:Through observationBy importing from digital files stored on the Web, on CD-ROM

or on other digital mediaVia submissions from site visitors who fill out Web form

(example: www.GasBuddy.com)By using the unstructured text of a Web page or other digital

documents

How to visualize a story?• Databases-charts (pie, column, bar, line, etc.)• Maps (Google Map, Map Builder, etc.)• Graphics (photographs, illustrations)• Sound clips• Video clips, etc.

What questions are we trying to answer with data?• How many/how much____________?• Where are____________?• Who are____________?• When did____________?• What is the biggest/smallest or the most/least ________?• What is the average_________?• What is the most/least common_________?• What is the ranking of_________?• In what order___________?

Common data visualizationPIE CHART

1st Qtr2nd Qtr3rd Qtr4th Qtr

Category 1

Category 4 Series

1

Series 2

BAR CHART

Catego

ry 1

Catego

ry 3

05

1015

Series 3Series 2Series 1

LINE CHART

0246

Series 1Series 2Series 3

COLUMN CHART

Time to make your own data• First thing first clarify your questions, what your are going to give in your data. It

should be simple and clear for audience.• Second, you should choose datasets to create a date. You can use Spreadsheet in

Google doc and Microsoft’s Excel program.Let is suppose we should create a data of how many journalist students passed current semester exam in different universities. What kind of information should we include into the data?!1. University name:2. Test year, date:3. Total tested students:4. Test score:5. Percent of passed:6. Percent of failed:

Learning Google doc spreadsheet

Dynamic Charts and Graphs• ManyEyes provides many different visualization options. It is a

vailable for public use. http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com• New York Times is one of the biggest organizations that have

used ManyEyes for data visualization. http:/vizlab.nytimes.com

• Let’s start to use ManyEyes:• You should register.

Create your own map• www.umapper.com• www.map.google.com• http://grubba.net• http://mapalist.com• http://www.zeemaps.com

Sources:• “Blogs, Wikis, MySpace, and More” Terry Burrows• “Journalism Next” Mark Briggs• “The Digital Journalist’s Handbook” Mark S.Luckie• “Producing Online News Digital Skills, Stronger Stories” Ryan

M. Thornburg• “Online Journalism” James C.Foust• “Aim For The Heart” Al Tompkins

Thank you!

Sabina Vagifgizi, co-founder andco-editor-in-chief of The Baku PostMob: (055)819-51-87Email: [email protected]: @sabinussFacebook: Sabina VagifgiziBlog: http://sabinavaqif.wordpress.comWebsite: www.bakupost.org