ABSTRACT
Data journalism has the ability to create rock stars. Data journalism can involve all sorts of skills and people, from those who are good at getting information in the first place, to those who can pull stories out of it, those who can write the stories, make information visual, or make data interactive. Increasingly, data-driven journalism is not just about telling stories but is making products that people can use, from searchable databases to apps. A great way to get data for exclusive stories is to use the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request information from public bodies including data and documents. One of the basic principles of data visualisation is to avoid using 3D effects: these not only add unnecessary visual information but it can actively distort the chart. People can focus on finding stories in new datasets released by government organisations or other bodies, or develop their visual skills by creating compelling maps and infographics.
