Local or hyperlocal news outlets may not have access to the same human and technological resources as larger organisations do, which benefit from teams dedicated solely to data storytelling.
So even if they do come across data that might be of interest to their community, reporters should bear in mind that a data-centric approach is not always the best one for all stories, and there might be better ways to convey the value of this information.
Damian Radcliffe, Carolyn S. Chambers professor in journalism at the University of Oregon and co-author of Data Journalism: Inside the Global Future, has outlined five tips for using data in hyperlocal journalism in this post on MediaShift.
His tips include using off-the-shelf resources and tools to find specific data, such as FixMyStreet, and remembering to put any relevant information or figures into context for the audience.
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