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A New Dawn for the “Developing” World? Probing Data Journalism in Non-Western Societies

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Data Journalism in the Global South

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Journalism and the Global South ((PSJGS))

Abstract

When all is said and done, technology has continued to play a critical role in unveiling new thinking in journalism research and practice. But up until now, very few have talked about data journalism in non-Western contexts—at least not in an academic setting, leaving many wondering whether it exists. The watchword “data journalism” has continued to gather pace as journalists across the world are increasingly turning to numerical figures and data gurus to boost their innovative storytelling techniques and methods. This chapter seeks to explore the practical, methodological and theoretical underpinnings of data journalism, critiquing various newsrooms’ growing reliance on structured pieces of data at the expense of traditionally structured news stories. This chapter does not seek to challenge notions or suggestions that data journalism is a Western phenomenon but it will bring critical, up-to-date deliberations and developments that have dominated an upsurge of discussions and dialogues surrounding what others consider an emerging form of journalism. The chapter provides a historical analysis of data journalism aligning itself to key developments in non-Western contexts before discussing current and impending opportunities and challenges. The chapter establishes data journalism’s inherent potential but argues that its sustainability lies in its aptitude to comprehend the functions and role of journalism in a given society. Data journalism is, after all, journalism.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA

    Bruce Mutsvairo

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  1. Bruce Mutsvairo
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Correspondence to Bruce Mutsvairo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA

    Bruce Mutsvairo

  2. University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia

    Saba Bebawi

  3. Northwestern University Qatar, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar

    Eddy Borges-Rey

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Mutsvairo, B. (2019). A New Dawn for the “Developing” World? Probing Data Journalism in Non-Western Societies. In: Mutsvairo, B., Bebawi, S., Borges-Rey, E. (eds) Data Journalism in the Global South. Palgrave Studies in Journalism and the Global South. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25177-2_1

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