April 17, 2024

When you compare data storytelling to any other communication medium, you'll discover an interesting parallel between comic books and data stories. Both of these storytelling formats must balance visuals and words to tell their stories. In this article, I explore five key lessons data storytellers can learn from the world of comic books.

November 30, 2023

Increasingly, more context and interpretation are being added to standard reports. While narrative reporting employs similar tactics and is complementary to data storytelling, it fundamentally differs in its emphasis and structure. In this article, I will explore how narrative reporting is unique from data storytelling and how they can work together in the analytics process.

September 6, 2023

One of the most challenging aspects of data storytelling isn't visualization but instead narrative. For many people, it can be somewhat of an enigma. One of the most crucial contributions that narrative makes to data stories is structure. This article reviews different narrative models and then introduces a powerful four-step narrative model for data storytelling.

May 18, 2023

In data storytelling, you want your signal (insight) to be understood and acted on by your audience. Frequently, noise in the data or design can interfere with your message. In this article, I review five categories of potential clutter and provide recommendations on how to avoid clutter in the data scenes of your data stories.

April 4, 2023

When people are asked why data storytelling matters, most of the focus is on the benefits that can be derived by the individuals communicating the insights. However, there are two key perspectives to consider when contemplating why it matters--that of the sender and that of the receiver. While individuals will gain much from developing data storytelling skills, it's ultimately the audiences who will be the greater beneficiaries. This article explores how each side benefits from data storytelling and how data stories can collectively enhance your organization's overall success.

February 22, 2023

Most of the focus on data storytelling is centered on the crafting and telling of data stories. However, to become a better data storyteller, it's important to recognize and understand the two essential steps that precede the telling of a data story--storyframing and storyforming. This article explores the roles that these two exploratory steps can play in identifying meaningful insights before they are crafted and shared as data stories.