Effective data storytelling

Recent Blog Posts

Data Literacy And Data Storytelling: How Do They Fit Together?

Data Literacy And Data Storytelling: How Do They Fit Together?

Brent Dykes Avatar Photo

May 12, 2022

Data literacy is a key focus of many organizations as they seek to help their employees take full advantage of their data. While data storytelling is often included in data literacy training, the question is whether it is a required skill to be data literate. In this article, I explore the minimum viable skills someone needs to qualify as being data literate. I then share where data storytelling fits in the data literacy landscape.

Every Good Data Story Has An Insight At Its Core

Every Good Data Story Has An Insight At Its Core

Brent Dykes Avatar Photo

March 17, 2022

Today, more and more people realize there is more to data storytelling than just data visualization. If you were to evaluate what makes a data story "good," you'd discover one crucial ingredient that's necessary--a meaningful insight. In this article, I review what insights are and the critical role they play in data stories. I also share thoughts from a recent journal article by Sorin Adam Matei and Lucas Hunter on the importance of insights to data storytelling in science communication and data journalism.

Data Storytelling: Is It Art or Science?

Data Storytelling: Is It Art or Science?

Brent Dykes Avatar Photo

February 15, 2022

Data storytelling is one of the few data skills that combines both disciplines of art and science. In this article, I look at the different elements under each discipline and explain how they contribute to crafting and telling data stories effectively.

Why Data Storytelling Requires a Mindset Shift

Why Data Storytelling Requires a Mindset Shift

Brent Dykes Avatar Photo

December 9, 2021

To become an effective data storyteller, you must shift your mindset from being reporting centered to embracing a different storytelling approach. In this article, I introduce the Insight Funnel and how reports/dashboards complement data stories. Then I explore the six key approach differences between reports/dashboards and data stories.

A Deeper Dive into LEGO Bricks and Data Stories

A Deeper Dive into LEGO Bricks and Data Stories

Brent Dykes Avatar Photo

September 9, 2021

Recently, an image that associated LEGO bricks with data storytelling went viral on LinkedIn. As a LEGO fan and data storyteller, I decided to take a closer look at the five-step process from raw data to a data story. I developed my own version that I feel corrects some of the flaws in the original image. I believe this analogy can be useful in explaining the process of how a data story comes together.

Six Visual Myths That Won’t Go Away—But Should

Six Visual Myths That Won’t Go Away—But Should

Brent Dykes Avatar Photo

March 26, 2020

As a data storyteller, you believe in the persuasive power of visual information. However, many of the popular statistics related to visual communication and perception cannot be trusted due to suspect citations and sources. We need to stop relying on these dubious statistics to preserve the integrity of our visual craft.

Get the Book

Effective Data Storytelling

Master the art and science of data storytelling—with frameworks and techniques to help you craft compelling stories with data.

Effectively communicating with data is a necessity in organizations of all types and sizes. It’s often the crucial last mile in the analysis process that determines whether an insight will inspire action. Transforming data into visual communication is only one part of the picture—it’s just as important to engage your audience with a memorable and persuasive story. Narratives are more powerful than raw statistics, more enduring then pretty charts. Effective Data Storytelling teaches you how to communicate insights that influence decisions, inspire action, and drive change.

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