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Article published In:
Information Design Journal
Vol. 27:3 (2022) ► pp.309–319

“I learned it on the job”

Becoming a Data Visualization professional in news media

ORCID logo | University of Lisbon [email protected]
ORCID logo | ITI/LARSyS, University of Lisbon

Graphs, charts, and infographics have long been a part of newsrooms. Nevertheless, in recent decades, new data processing and graphical representation findings have led to a boom in data and visual journalism. Both professionals and newsrooms have had to adapt quickly to the fast-developing field of Data Visualization while facing an unprecedented crisis. Through semi-structured interviews with worldwide graphic reporters and data journalists, this research delves into academic backgrounds, daily tasks, and design processes to answer the question of how someone comes to design graphics for a living in recent years. One common phenomenon was identified: self-teaching.

Keywords: Data Visualization, Journalism, design process, Visual Journalism
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Methodology
  • 3.Results
    • 3.1Becoming a hybrid professional
    • 3.2Process
    • 3.3A career with future
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
Published online: 2 December 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.22004.est
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