These are just some of the types of content made possible by the work of data journalists. Although the practice is not new, it developed significantly in newsrooms around the mid-2000s with the digital revolution and the rise of open data. By combining technical and journalistic skills, data journalists create increasingly refined interactive formats for readers.
To better understand the specifics of this profession in major French news outlets—as well as the journalists' daily routines and their relationship with public relations—Victor Alexandre (Le Parisien), Mathieu Lehot-Couette (franceinfo.fr), and Raphaëlle Aubert (Le Monde) share their insights.
Data Journalists: Between Data Analysis and Traditional Journalism
When asked to define the role, Victor Alexandre, data journalist at Le Parisien, summarizes: “We’re journalists like any other, but instead of interviewing people, we interview databases.”Mathieu Lehot-Couette, data journalist for franceinfo.fr, describes two types of situations in his daily work: “Data can be the end goal of the subject. For example, if we want to produce a map showing the size of each European country’s military, I’ll look for the relevant data to build that map. But sometimes, data helps uncover a story. For instance, by analyzing a database on nighttime lighting in cities, I can track which towns have chosen to turn off lights and correlate that with their political leaning to explore potential links.”
These examples highlight the variety of tasks data journalists handle, which vary depending on newsroom structure. At Le Parisien, the data team primarily supports other journalists. At franceinfo.fr, it takes the initiative in creating stories. At Le Monde, Raphaëlle Aubert, a data journalist, is often involved from the beginning of a project: “What I really enjoy is being able to initiate my own topics or contribute to investigations. When collaborating with other departments, we sometimes respond to specific requests, but that’s rare.”
Their role also includes “visualizing data to help readers understand it, since it’s often very complex,” says Raphaëlle Aubert, who works with Les Décodeurs. To do this, they collaborate with the digital art direction team on design and visual storytelling.
The Editorial Role of Data Journalism in French Newsrooms
Just like other editorial specialties, data journalists choose their topics based on news cycles and reader interests. Data can be useful “for investigations, fact-checking, and also for service-oriented content,” says Raphaëlle Aubert. “We often work in teams: within Les Décodeurs, with other departments of the paper, or even with other media outlets during cross-border collaborations.”All types of topics are relevant. “We’re lucky to cover all the subjects in the newsroom,” says Victor Alexandre. “For example, the National Rally's results in cities with more than 10,000 residents, Ousmane Dembélé’s shots, or the link between downtown bourgeois populations and drug trafficking.” Using a data-driven angle “brings nuance to a subject,” according to Lehot-Couette. “In the overwhelming flood of information that can exhaust readers, we offer them a moment to pause with very factual elements. These formats let them dive deeper.”
Still, data remains a source like any other: it must be verified and contextualized. “There’s nothing worse for a reader than opening the paper and reading something that contradicts their experience,” says Alexandre. “For instance, saying their region isn’t a medical desert while they’ve been waiting months to see a surgeon—that’s a problem. Contextual work is essential.” Journalists specializing in data bear particular responsibility in how they handle it.
Data Journalism and Public Relations: Collaboration with Conditions
In addition to their intuition and field expertise, data journalists gather information from public administrations, state-owned companies, and open data providers. They often use databases from INSEE, Eurostat, the French Observatory on Drugs and Addictive Behaviors, Transfermarkt, Météo France, or the National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information (IGN). But where do press releases fit into this picture?“I receive a lot of press releases by email. Unfortunately, they’re usually not relevant to me. So I rarely use them,” says Raphaëlle Aubert. She adds, however: “We may consider studies from private companies if the raw data is shared and seems interesting to us.” For data to be useful to data journalists, it must meet their standards. Just as journalists verify testimonies, they must also verify any conclusions from an organization. “Receiving a PDF with no link to the source data is especially frustrating,” explains Victor Alexandre. “Transparency is key, and data must be solid. We’ll only mention the brand if it truly provides something new.”
What Data Journalists Expect from PR Professionals
In reality, direct outreach from PR professionals is limited. Most of the time, journalists themselves reach out to companies in search of data. For Mathieu Lehot-Couette, these interactions can be challenging: “PR teams are used to organizing interviews or providing clarifications. When we ask for data, the response can be disappointing.”Whether the data is shared depends on the “sharing culture of the organization,” says Aubert. “We understand that data can have strategic value, which makes it harder to share. But we advocate for transparency.”
The most common request from data journalists to companies is to be connected with technical staff who can provide data in usable formats. “It’s tricky because there’s no guaranteed return on investment for private actors,” says Lehot-Couette. “Of course, we credit the company if we use their data—but not if we simply have a conversation with one of their technicians.”
To maintain good relationships with data journalists, some organizations create dedicated exchanges. “For example, INSEE hosts webinars to present new datasets, explain their limitations and biases, and describe the processing methods,” says Victor Alexandre. “That’s very helpful for us and allows us to maintain relationships with important and valuable institutions.” These regular exchanges help build long-term trust, ultimately serving the quality of information.
In this article:
- How do data journalists use press releases?
- What data formats work best for data journalists?
- Why is transparency essential when working with them?
→ Learn more about open data in France: https://www.data.gouv.fr
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