This is the first in our summer series sharing how-tos, tips and guides from the 2023-2024 Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellows. First up, José Luis Martínez, a data reporter at The Connecticut Mirror. CT Mirror is a 14-year-old digital nonprofit newsroom that covers politics, policy and government. Martínez’s project, “Behind the Numbers,” won our top fellowship prize.
The project “Behind the Numbers” aims to build trust by showing readers the how and why behind the CT Mirror’s data.
“There are three pillars,” Martínez said via email. “1. It all starts with getting reporters more comfortable with data skills. 2. Exploring the ethics behind how to make use of the data behind the scenes and in our stories. 3. Making the entire process transparent to our readers.”