April 16, 2018 // Data Storytelling Workshop explored how data can be leveraged to tell more impactful stories and identified key stakeholders necessary for effective collaboration.
On April 16, 2018, the Agora Journalism Center convened over 60 data practitioners, storytellers, civic leaders, designers, journalists, and researchers for a day-long, hands-on Data Storytelling Workshop in Portland.
Participants represented diverse sectors, including newsrooms, nonprofits, local government, libraries, academia, and the civic technology community. Each contributed distinct perspectives on utilizing data to foster shared understanding and promote collective action.
Purpose
The workshop was structured to advance beyond traditional dashboards and charts. It encouraged participants to examine how data becomes more meaningful when integrated with storytelling strategies grounded in:
- Empathy and audience context
- Visual communication
- Narrative structure
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
The primary objectives of the event were to humanize data, clarify the use of storytelling tools, and foster relationships between data practitioners and narrative creators.
What We Did
The workshop included the following components:
- Case study discussions with Oregon-based practitioners sharing real-world examples of data-informed storytelling
- Lightning talks from journalists, designers, and civic analysts
- Small-group sessions focused on practical storytelling methods, such as data visualization, participatory mapping, and visual facilitation.
- A collaborative exercise was conducted to develop a shared vocabulary among sectors that frequently use different data terminologies.
What We Heard
- Data storytelling is not solely focused on simplifying messages; rather, it aims to deepen understanding.
- Visual literacy and narrative framing serve as essential tools for establishing trust.
- Both civic and journalistic professionals expressed a strong interest in collaborative environments for co-creating meaning from data.
- There is significant demand for more deliberate collaborations between data producers and storytellers.
The Data Storytelling Workshop exemplified Agora’s ongoing commitment to supporting interdisciplinary convenings that strengthen civic information ecosystems and highlight the human dimension of data.