Journalist's Toolbox Newsletter XL
Jan. 25, 2022
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Basic Charts in Datawrapper
Datawrapper is one of many chart and mapping tools we list on Journalist’s Toolbox. It’s one of my longtime favorites as the software has updated over the years.
The free version offers many options for interactive line and bar charts, tables to embed raw data, as well a choropleth, symbol and locator maps. Datawrapper offers a pricier version (up to $6,000 a year, but I’ve found the free version to fit all of my needs.
I’ve been using the tool for nearly a decade in my reporting classes to introduce college students to basic charts and “day-turn” maps that they must produce quickly. I typically give them a cleaned dataset to practice with, then challenge them to find their own datasets and visualize them.
The graphics can be exported as interactive, embeddable charts or as static images for print (the quality is surprisingly good).
Datawrapper also offers “The River” — a wonderful collection of charts and maps from all over the world. It’s great inspiration and can be helpful for developing graphic and story ideas.
The tools was developed by a team of 18 data visualists and journalists, and is available in several languages.
In our next newsletter, I’ll post about how to create locator and choropleth maps with Datawrapper. In the meantime, here’s a video tutorial and exercise on how to create a chart in Datawrapper. I also wrote about this exercise for Quill online.
10 New Training Videos Launched
We added 10 new training videos to the Toolbox YouTube page last week. We explore tools such as Google Earth Studio, Jitter.video for motion graphics, Descript for transcription and embedding audio, ethics resources and a five-part playlist of videos on covering business.
Around the Web
Rolliapp: This searchable platform lets vetted media producers find the right expert for any story. The site claims all experts have been thoroughly vetted based on credentials, expertise and professional affiliations.
NameChk: Search more than 30 domains and 90 social media accounts for username availability. You also can use it to search where people are leaving that username all over the web. Great for tracking a username down.
Cool Tool Tuesday
Don’t forget that at 1 p.m. CT each Tuesday, we feature a new resource on #cooltooltuesday, like you see in our Around the Web section of this newsletter. Be sure to check it out and retweet it. Here’s a video of some of my past faves:
In Quotes …
“Journalism can never be silent. That is its greatest virtue and greatest fault.” -- Henry Grunwald, former Time Magazine editor-in-chief
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