This session explores the powerful potential of visualising qualitative data – interviews, archives, testimonies, police reports, and more – within investigative journalism. We’ll delve into how these rich, often non-georeferenced sources can be transformed into compelling maps, diagrams, and visual narratives, offering unique insights into complex stories.
Moving beyond traditional hard data visualisation, this approach can reveal hidden patterns and connections within qualitative information and illuminate the human dimension of investigations, adding depth and clarity to narratives that might otherwise remain opaque. We’ll also examine how combining qualitative visualisation with hard data, such as satellite analysis, can strengthen the accuracy and impact of investigative reporting.
During this session, Federico Caruso (editorial coordinator, European Data Journalism Network) and Riccardo Pravettoni (journalist cartographer, Le Monde) will explain the mechanisms and choices involved in creating some of Le Monde’s most impactful visual stories, drawing from examples such as the Mazan trial, Saydnaya prison, and events in Lebanon and Gaza. We’ll examine how they analyse information, select sources, and craft the aesthetic look of these formats.
No prior knowledge or expertise is required to attend. You also won’t need to bring any specific materials.
You will leave this session with a better understanding on how to: - Identify and extract valuable information from qualitative sources - Apply various visualisation techniques to represent this data effectively - Combine qualitative and quantitative data for stronger investigative narratives - Appreciate the importance of scale and aesthetic choices in visual storytelling - Gain a practical understanding of the processes involved in creating compelling visual journalism
