Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• maryam salimi ¹
• Mohammad Soltanifar ²
• Afsaneh Mozaffari ³
• Younes Shokrkhah ⁴

¹ PhD Candidate in Mass Communication, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.

² Associate Professor, Department of Communications, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. (corresponding author)

³ Associate Professor, Department of Communications, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

⁴ Assistant Professor, Department of Europe studies, Tehran University, Faculty of World Studies, Tehran,Iran.

Abstract

The present research aims to study data journalism in world media using a case study of data journalism in the Guardian UK. The theories of “Public Spheres”, "use & gratification" and “Network Society” were used and in-depth interview (with 103 data journalism expert), case study and secondary research were the methods of study. The present study has attempted to answer 20 general and specialized questions. The investigation of 5 general questions (in in-depth interviews) showed that the majority of interviewees consider the Guardian and New York Times the leading media with data journalism teams and UK and USA the two leading countries in this field. The interviewees highlighted the effect of the Guardian’s data journalism team in the world and their own teams and have stated they are, to some extent, familiar with this team’s work, the composition of the team and their preferred software. The majority of the interviewees consider Guardian’s data journalism inspirational, credible, divulging and of high quality.
The investigation of 121 data journalism works by the Guardian in the case study demonstrates their divulging and critical approach. The study of the time of forming the team in 33 media revealed the young nature of this field (in its modern perception). Analyzing the state of data journalism in the world shows that despite the challenges and differences in its progress among different countries, this area of media is developing and therefore the introduction of Iran's media into this field seems necessary.

Keywords

• data journalism
• data journalism team
• the Guardian
• UK
• Datablog