Data journalism

I have used data journalism as a technique throughout my career, have worked as a market intelligence analyst and now provide training on data journalism to several organisations. The following articles are mostly or entirely based on data analysis. See also my work on mapping, which often involves data analysis.

Civil service’s national diversity hides local differences, Civil Service World, Nov 22, 2021
Based on data published by the Cabinet Office on the civil service workforce as of 31 March 2021.

Digital use of vehicle tax and driving test services spiked in April, PublicTechnology.net, Feb 12, 2021
Based on data published by the Department for Transport on the Gov.uk Performance Platform (which is being retired in mid-March – most departments have not updated their data here for some time).

NHS 111 service struggled with demand from north-west callers last month, PublicTechnology.net, Nov 17, 2020
Based on NHS Digital’s NHS 111 minimum data set for October 2020.

UK government coronavirus data flawed and misleading, ComputerWeekly.com, Oct 6, 2020

All-lane smart motorways show boost in average speeds, PublicTechnology.net, Mar 16, 2020
Based on average traffic speed data published by the Department for Transport.

Data suggests big local differences in EU settlement applications, PublicTechnology.net, Mar 3, 2020
Based on EU Settlement Scheme data from the Home Office and information on nationality of people by local authority area from the Office for National Statistics.

Whitehall posts big rise in cost-based refusals for FOI requests, PublicTechnology.net, Feb 12, 2020
Based on data collected and published by the Cabinet Office.

NHS 111 shows strain from high demand, PublicTechnology.net, Jan 20, 2020
Based on NHS Digital’s NHS 111 minimum data set for December 2019.

New finance IT system caused spike in Home Office’s late payments, PublicTechnology.net, Dec 20, 2019
This uses prompt payment data from departments on Gov.uk, including the Home Office data for 2019-20 and 2018-19; the Department for Work and Pensions data for 2019-20; and the Department of Health and Social Care, which helpfully puts all the data on one page.

Tech helps Whitehall cuts three-fifths of greenhouse gas emissions, PublicTechnology.net, Nov 13, 2019
Main data from this Office for National Statistics release on greenhouse gas emissions by economic sector from 1990 to 2018, with other information from government and departmental reports.

GDPR blamed for doubling of Whitehall’s recorded data breaches, PublicTechnology.net, Oct 8, 2019
An update on May’s feature on the same topic, based on 2018/19 annual reports published over the summer.

Older people ‘need alternatives’ to digital services as research shows one in four live offline, PublicTechnology.net, Aug 20, 2019
Based on two sets of ONS data on internet use, released in May and August.

HMRC approved for £112m Microsoft spending and HMRC discloses decision-makers for £112m Microsoft deal, PublicTechnology.net, Aug 6, 2019 and Sep 16, 2019
The first story was based on this open data from HMRC, and similar from other departments. The second was based on the response to a Freedom of Information request I submitted.

Which government department suffers the most data breaches?, PublicTechnology.net/Civil Service World, May 10, 2019
Based on data drawn from several years of departmental annual reports.

Where in Britain works best for IT? ComputerWeekly.com, Nov 9, 2018
The article, based on a comparison of NUTS 3 economic areas of the UK using four factors relevant to IT employers, includes the following interactive panel which I built.
UK government’s cloud spending hits saturation: Love of Microsoft endures
The Register, May 10, 2018

Big tech’s grip loosens on UK.gov IT spend
The Register, Jan 13, 2017

Violence, climate change, obesity: world’s cities face growing health risks
Guardian Healthcare Professionals Network, Nov 13, 2015

Social media and the public sector: who’s using it?
Guardian Public Leaders Network, Nov 27, 2014

How has the NHS workforce changed since the coalition took power?
Guardian Healthcare Professionals Network, Feb 13, 2014

Every man, woman and child in the UK paid HP £21 last year (details of big suppliers to government, using Freedom of Information and open data)
The Register, Nov 12, 2013

The top 100 government suppliers (using Freedom of Information)
Guardian Data blog, Mar 2, 2011

UK life expectancy figures show the difference money makes
Guardian Datablog, Oct 20, 2010 (republished here with data mapped)

Charting a new course: data analysis of the NHS across the UK
Health Service Journal, 5 Jul 2005