Data Investigation & Narrative Development
Uncover story angles from data, verify findings, structure narratives
What You Can Do
You systematically explore datasets to identify newsworthy patterns and anomalies, then verify your findings using rigorous methodology checks. The skill helps you structure complex data into compelling narratives ready for publication, complete with supporting documentation and visualization recommendations.
Features
Analyzes datasets to identify patterns, anomalies, outliers, and trends that could form the basis of a news story
Extracts newsworthy angles from raw data by asking critical questions and highlighting data points with human impact
Validates your findings through methodology review, cross-checking against multiple sources, and identifying potential confounding variables
Organizes data insights into publication-ready narrative formats with clear story arcs, supporting evidence, and compelling leads
Suggests specific charts, maps, and graphics that best communicate your data story to readers
Maintains detailed methodology notes, data source tracking, and audit trails for editorial review and fact-checking
Provides statistical literacy guidance to ensure claims are proportionate to the data and explains margin of error implications
Example Output
Input: Budget CSV from local government with spending by department over 5 years
Output:
Story Angle: 'Police Spending Surge While Schools Face Cuts'
- Police budget increased 28% YoY (2024-2025), highest growth rate
- Education budget flat at $450M despite 5% enrollment increase
- Per-pupil spending dropped 3.2%
Narrative Structure
- Lede: With schools juggling larger classes on stagnant budgets, the city's police department received its largest budget increase in a decade.
- Nut graph: [Statistical context, methodology]
- Data breakdown: [Comparison tables, growth rates by department]
- Human impact: [Interview angle suggestions]
Verification Checklist
- ✅ Inflation-adjusted? Yes (2.8% CPI applied)
- ✅ Off-budget funds excluded? Verified
- ✅ Peer comparison available? Yes (regional averages provided)
Recommended Visuals
- Stacked area chart: All departments over 5 years
- Slope graph: Police vs. Education budget comparison
What's Included
- Data Exploration Workflow: Step-by-step process for loading, profiling, and interrogating datasets to find story leads
- Story Angle Framework: Decision tree for extracting newsworthy angles that emphasize change, inequality, and human impact
- Finding Verification Checklist: Verification questions covering methodology, statistical significance, potential bias, and alternative explanations
- Narrative Templates: Publication-ready structures for data stories including lede, nut graph, supporting evidence, and conclusion
- Visualization Recommendation System: Chart type selector based on data shape (time series, distribution, comparison, composition)
- Methodology Documentation: Template for transparent reporting of data sources, cleaning steps, calculations, and limitations
Who It's For
- Investigative journalists
- Data journalists and newsroom reporters
- Academic researchers publishing findings
- Policy analysts and think tank researchers
Best For
- Investigating government spending, hiring, and regulatory patterns
- Building multi-part investigative data series
- Fact-checking statistical claims in politics or corporate earnings
- Finding human impact angles in technical datasets
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