The Creative Tension Between the Data Creators and the Storytellers

• Activity Number: 108
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Monday, August 10, 2015 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Committee on Excellence in Statistical Reporting
• Author(s): Lucas Hitt*
• Companies: Bureau of Economic Analysis

Abstract

Data Creators and storytellers are a team. Sometimes they know each other and work in close concert, other times the team is anonymous and each member works in isolation. Regardless, they are a team. One contributes the basis for the story - the details, the information, the facts and the figures; the other brings it to life and adds value through application and audience exposure. Emerging tools for open data and visualization can further remove the data creator from the storytellers and the increasing market for "data journalism" further increases the drive for more.

At their best, there is a creative tension at work - friction between a "just the facts" approach and an approach that can engage a broad audience and inform and enlighten. What are these friction points, how do we engage and leverage them, and how do we maximize the value of both sides of the equation?

Creative tension leads to better ideas and outcomes - the data creators and the storytellers need engagement on language, audience, outcomes, and process to fully realize their combined power.