This document discusses using data-driven storytelling to communicate important information and persuade audiences. It explains that storytelling is how humans share knowledge and lessons, while data provides measurable results. Different visualization tools like Tableau, Highcharts and d3.js can help bring data to life in stories. The document then outlines a 10 step process for crafting data-driven stories, which involves planning the narrative, analyzing relevant data, selecting an appropriate presentation style, building visualizations, and promoting and updating the story over time.

1. Data Driven Storytelling
“The universe is not made of atoms,
it is made of stories.”
Muriel Rukeyser

2. Nathan Gasser
ngasser@rockriverstar.com
Briana Morgan
brianalmorgan@gmail.com

3. Why Storytelling?

4. Humans are wired for storytelling
Stories are how we imagine possibilities, encode our values, and
teach lessons to the next generation. Stories impart facts,
opinions, judgments, and emotions. Stories have a unique power
to both inform and persuade.

5. Why Data?

6. We live in a results-driven world
Nonprofits are expected to be “run like a business”
Foundations make “investments”, not grants

7. Let me tell you a story…

8. Elements of a good story
Se#ng
Where
are
we?
Why
are
we
here?
Characters
Protagonists
&
Antagonists
Conflict
&
Poten8al
Plot
Beginning,
Middle,
End
Backstory,
Ac8on,
Resolu8on
Detail
Detail,
not
digression

9. Whose story is it?
Do you want people to explore and come to their own
conclusions?
Or you have a message you want them to take away?

10. How about the data?

11. Tableau Public
Best for:
• Making & sharing a quick story
• Data you don’t mind making public

12. #MakeoverMonday

13. Highcharts
Best for:
• Web developers who know JavaScript
• Embedding in a website with dynamic data

14. d3.js
Best for:
• Developers who really really love JavaScript
• Complicated data you can’t show with normal
charts

15. More examples if we have time…
• Charts
– http://viz.healthmetricsandevaluation.org/gbd-compare/
• Maps
– http://pooreconomics.com/data/country/home
• Interactive
– http://foods.bridgingthegapresearch.org
• Immersive Presentation
– http://rwjf.org/maketobaccohistory

16. Data-Driven Storytelling
In Ten Easy Steps!
1. Draft your story
2. Gather & process the data
3. Select a presentation style (Classic, funky, map, infographic;
interactive vs static) and a tool (Off the shelf? Custom built?)
4. Load the data & create your visualization
5. Add your narrative
6. Make it beautiful
7. Test it and make it better
8. Release it & promote it
9. Keep the data updated (Daily? Yearly? Real-time?)
10. Impact the world

17. Workshop Time

18. Your Story
• Who are your characters – your heroes
and villains?
• Who’s your audience? Do they know
your characters?

19. Your Data
• What data will you need to tell this
story?
• Do you have it now, or can you easily
acquire it?
• Will it need to be processed and
analyzed, or just presented?

20. Your Stage
• How can you best reach your audience
with this story?
– Your website? Social media? Email? Print?
• What do you want them to take away
from your story, and what actions can
they take?
• How will you measure the impact your
story has?

21. Links n’ Stuff
http://bit.ly/216QxUn

22. Thanks for Listening!
Nathan Gasser
ngasser@rockriverstar.com
Briana Morgan
brianalmorgan@gmail.com