Spreadsheets, Software, Storytelling, Visualization, Lifelong Learning: Essential Data Skills for Journalism and Strategic Communication Students

Abstract

To facilitate greater integration of statistical reasoning and data instruction in journalism and mass communication (JMC) college curricula, this research note advocates designing collective instruction for journalism and strategic communication students organized around the data literacy construct. It introduces a Data Project Lifecycle model that maps statistics, data, and computational skills discussed across the literature, and which can be used in instructional design. Input from 24 journalism and strategic communication practitioners with data experience identifies essential data skills for JMC graduates: spreadsheet wherewithal, fluency in industry-standard software, ability to tell compelling stories with data, visualization, and self-directed learning.