The Centre for Investigative Journalism
The Centre for Investigative Journalism
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Data Journalism

The techniques of data journalism have evolved since the days of Computer-Assisted-Reporting, but the principles of Philip Meyer’s Precision Journalism still apply. From the Migrant Files to the Panama Papers, data has been providing leads, analysis, evidence and explainers for some of the best, hardest hitting journalism of recent times.

As Freedom of Information legislation and Open Data movements allow access to previously unavailable data, and new methods of gathering data become ever more feasible, journalists need the skills to be able to penetrate and make sense of vast datasets. Whether it’s to save time in generating leads, or evidencing an existing investigative hypothesis, or leveraging data analysis to open up areas that would otherwise be impossible to fully investigate, these have become essential skills.

All our data training is taught by some of the top data journalists in the industry, with years of collective newsroom experience at the Guardian, FT, The Times, the BBC, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, ICIJ, Bloomberg, among others.

We teach beginner, intermediate and advanced use of software to help journalists sort through data sets and find stories. You can choose any combination of:

  • Dataset analysis (beginners, intermediate and advanced levels, including stats)
  • Data cleaning
  • Data visualisation
  • Web scraping
  • Coding for journalists
  • SQL
  • R
  • Python

Courses are taught using real datasets from British, EU and US sources, and our trainers are employed by well-known broadcasters or newspapers and have used data journalism extensively throughout their careers. They are able to show participants examples of stories they have found through datasets and support them to do the same.


All our bespoke training is led by experienced journalists and specialists and is always centred around real life application to ensure that participants leave with new skills that can be put to use immediately and with confidence. We aim to tailor our sessions around current investigations, so that while participants are learning skills they are also making progress on live research projects, returning with new leads and information as well as new tools and techniques.

The flexibility of our coordination team and our training network allows us to build a specific curriculum that will fit your needs and provide the most effective staff development for your investigative research. If you would like to discuss this process and get a quote, please contact us at tom [at] tcij.org.