Lessons from the Pandemic: COVID-19 and Health-Pharma Investigations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, journalists worldwide were suddenly thrown into the public health beat, trying to make sense of competing claims, and a science that seemed to change by the day. A session at the GIJC21 walked reporters through the COVID-19 pandemic, offering tips on covering the drug development and approval processes, evaluating scientific studies, unearthing conflicts of interest, and exposing fraud and malpractice.

Scientific American - Florence Nightingale graphics

Data Journalism Top 10: Kids’ Fashion Stereotypes, Economic Sandwich Index, Immigration Profits, and Florence Nightingale’s Graphics

Children’s fashion is riddled with gender stereotypes, according to an analysis by German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, which found that popular children’s clothing tended to be more revealing for girls, but comfortable and functional for boys. Also this week, analysis of the big earners in the healthcare industry, the tracking of post-pandemic recovery through sandwich sales, and Florence Nightingale’s contribution to graphic storytelling.

CBC heat islands graphed by economic diversity

Data Journalism Top 10: Sweltering Cities, Digital Inequity, Climate & Sleep, COVID & Schools

As parts of the world endure record-breaking temperatures, a highlight from the world of data journalism this week involves an analysis of how “heat islands” in Canadian cities vary based on economic strata. Our weekly Top Ten in Data Journalism also looks at the global spread of Pegasus spyware, digital inequity in the US, and how the COVID-19 pandemic affects school children in Latin America.

Data Journalism Top 10: Tracking Russia’s War, Ukraine’s Refugees, COVID-19 Polarization, Clothing Waste, Banh Mi

Our weekly round-up of the most popular data journalism stories on Twitter features an item from The Washington Post on refugees crossing Ukraine’s borders, an examination of vaccine hesitancy in the US, a look at how the coronavirus pandemic has changed life in the UK, and mapping the price of the Vietnamese staple of bánh mì in Australia. 

Data Journalism Top 10: Hot Dogs, Ransomware, Earth’s Hottest Places, Miami Building Collapse, Bezos Empire

High vaccination rates in some parts of the world are helping to curb the spread of COVID-19 and allowing communities to resume normal life. But vaccinations can also give a false sense of security, with new variants threatening to prolong the pandemic. Our NodeXL mapping from June 28 to July 4, found Portuguese newspaper Público creating a tool to help readers find out what activities they can do after getting the vaccine at minimal risk. In this edition, we also take a look at a piece examining forest fires in Mexico, an analysis of the worst cyberattacks by Bloomberg, and a lively data-driven essay on same-gender lyrics by The Pudding.

Tips on Data, Sources, and Angles from Investigative Journalists on the COVID-19 Frontlines

Three veteran journalists on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis discuss investigative angles into the response in the first of GIJN’s webinar series, Investigating the Pandemic. Gloria Riva of l’Espresso in Italy, OCCRP Editor Drew Sullivan and GIJN Chinese Editor Joey Qi discuss the importance of source-driven investigations and dealing with disinformation and data deficits.