Muhammad Imran, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Comilla University. He also works as a Data Journalist Trainer with the Media Resource Development Initiative (MRDI). He completed his MSc in Computational and Data Journalism from Cardiff University under the British government’s Chevening Scholarship. He spoke to Banik Barta regarding the nature of data journalism and its potential in Bangladesh following the 2024 mass uprising. The Interview was conducted by Sabrina Shorna.

Welcome back from the UK! Could you start by sharing what inspired you to specialize in computational and data journalism, and how your experience abroad has shaped your perspective?

Well, after graduating from Dhaka University in 2014, I worked as a reporter and sub-editor for a Dhaka-based English newspaper for a couple of years. During that time, the Panama Papers leak took place. It was one of the biggest investigative journalism works in recent memory. I was fascinated by the story and by their use of data journalism techniques. And the more I read about it, the power and potential of data journalism became obvious to me.

But there was no institution at that time that offered any training in Data Journalism in Bangladesh. So I kept learning on my own from Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) platforms like edX and Coursera, and from data journalists who published training online. I particularly remember Ben Welsh from the Los Angeles Times, who published a video series on Python programming for data journalists.

Eventually, I got the Chevening scholarship offered by the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) to pursue an MSc in Computational and Data Journalism at Cardiff University in 2023. Right before that, I also got a scholarship from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism to participate in the Lede Program for Data Journalism run by the same school in New York City.

What key differences does data journalism have compared to traditional reporting?

Our lives are becoming increasingly digitized; we are producing more and more data about ourselves and the world around us. Whether it’s individuals, corporations, or governments, everyone is generating vast amounts of data. As a result, important stories are buried within those numbers. Stories about corruption and governance, crime and justice, elections and political influence, public health and epidemics, and the environment and climate, to name a few. To uncover and tell these stories, you need a specific type of journalism that combines skills in data analysis, computational techniques (i.e., computer programming), and storytelling. And that’s where data journalism comes in.

At its core, data journalism is still journalism. All the rules of traditional journalism still apply to data journalism, for example, maintaining journalistic integrity, fact-checking, providing context for the data, and ensuring that the story is engaging and accessible to readers.

But journalists have been using data in their reporting for a long time, think of financial journalism, for example. So what makes data journalism different from traditional reporting that also uses data?

That’s a great point! Journalists have used data for years, especially in fields like financial or sports journalism. But in traditional reporting, data typically supports a story that’s already being told. In data journalism, the story often starts with the data. Journalists analyse large datasets to uncover patterns, trends, or hidden stories that wouldn’t be found otherwise. It also involves more advanced tools, like programming and interactive data visualization. And the data isn’t just numbers. It can include text, images, or even satellite data, which offer new ways to investigate and tell stories.

Currently, you’re teaching data journalism at a university and a major newsroom, while also working as a data journalist. Based on your experience, what challenges do you foresee in the growth of data journalism in Bangladesh?

There are many challenges, and most of these are not unique to Bangladesh; other developing countries are burdened with these issues. But I’d point out three.

The first and foremost is probably that, as a society and culture, we seem not to value the importance of collecting and preserving data. As data journalists, we do not produce the data; we simply collect it, investigate it, and tease out stories. So your story is only as good as your data. Thus, we lack both quantity and quality. I’ll give you an example. Both the London Metropolitan Police and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police publish monthly crime data on their respective websites. But if you look at both datasets on their respective websites, you’ll see that the data collected by the London Met Police is more in-depth: it includes borough and neighbourhood-level data, comes with a map, and even classifies cases with positive outcomes. By contrast, when I last checked the DMP’s crime data section a couple of weeks ago, the latest available data was from June 2023, and even that was neither structured nor as granular.

When data is rich and comprehensive, journalists have far more opportunities to tell compelling, evidence-based stories. Without it, we’re limited in the narratives we can uncover and share.

Another crucial aspect of developing a data journalism ecosystem is open data. The government collects and uses data to make decisions. The public has the right to that data, and the more widespread and easy access the public has to that data, the more empowered they become to hold institutions accountable. Data Journalism can bridge that gap between complex government data and the public. While Bangladesh officially supports open data access, the reality tells a different story. According to Open Data Watch, a US-based non-profit that promotes data openness and completeness, Bangladesh ranked 140th out of 195 countries in terms of data openness in 2023.

The third significant roadblock to data journalism in Bangladesh is the lack of data literacy among journalists. According to the 2023 State of Data Journalism survey conducted by the European Data Journalism Centre, less than 1% of journalists in Bangladesh have some experience in data. Currently, only a handful of universities in the country offer modules in data journalism, and in my opinion, even those only scratch the surface.

How can we overcome these challenges?

There’s no quick fix to these challenges. Improving data literacy among journalists, for example, will take time and sustained effort. Expanding access to quality data often depends on factors beyond the control of newsrooms, such as government policy and institutional transparency. Budget constraints also limit the ability of many media organisations to invest in data journalism.

Universities can take steps in this regard. Newsrooms with ample resources can also step up, and individuals like me who are already trained in data journalism can offer our assistance.

However, we can. Over time, these small steps can lay the groundwork for a stronger data-driven storytelling ecosystem in Bangladesh.

Can you provide an example of how data journalism can address pressing issues in Bangladesh?

The press is often referred to as the fourth estate because of its watchdog role over the government and other institutions. Data-driven reporting can elevate that role even further. In post-uprising Bangladesh, an accountable government is a key priority for the people. Data journalism can play a crucial role in promoting transparent and accountable governance in the new Bangladesh.

For example, a data journalist can use specialized tools to analyze the numerous speeches or promises that candidates will make in the upcoming election. And by doing so, they can shed light on how politicians structure narratives, fear, and promises. Alternatively, there is also a vast opportunity for investigative journalism within the large amount of information on candidates’ affidavits.

Finally, what advice would you offer to aspiring Bangladeshi journalists who are eager to explore and implement data-centric approaches in their reporting?

One beautiful aspect of data journalism is that, internationally, there is a very active community of data journalists who are eager to share their knowledge with others. There are a ton of educational videos, tutorials, blog posts, and online courses geared toward aspiring data journalists.

A good resource can be the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN); you can visit their website and find relevant information. In more specific terms, I would say that if one can master the ins and outs of Excel/Google Sheets, basic statistical concepts, and a few principles and tools of data visualization, they have already mastered a good deal of data storytelling. I’d also encourage them to keep themselves up to date with the recent trends in data journalism by regularly reading data journalism stories, particularly those by the BBC, The Guardian, and The New York Times.