On data storytelling – and how to make it responsibly

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 presetPicture from the Responsible Data Storytelling session, by Beatrice Martini (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Thanks to Nasma Ahmed, Renee Black and Sarah Moncelle for collaborating on editing this blogpost.

Stories are a key element of knowledge, and as such fuel evidence and empowerment. They can help communicate problems and challenges we might not have experienced personally, but that are key to be aware of in order to inform our understanding and agency as active members of our societies.

A compelling way to tell stories is through data. Presented as numbers, percentages and visualisations, data can transmit a message directly and sharply, often also helping going beyond misunderstandings caused by language or tone unclarity in our communication.

But are all data good (as in “not harmful”)? Is “the more the merrier” the most helpful way to work with them? Spoiler alert: no, and no.

Continue reading On data storytelling – and how to make it responsibly

Notes from the 2014 Nonprofit Software Development Summit

photoPicture by Beatrice Martini (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Last November I had the great opportunity to join the Nonprofit Software Development Summit.

Organised by Aspiration, the gathering convened a widely diverse crowd, more than 100 people between activists, developers, students, campaigners, nonprofit staff members passionate about creating technology for nonprofit and social justice efforts. I had first heard about it from Misty Avila (Aspiration) and since reading Dirk Slater’s write-up about his 2013 summit experience I had it saved in my check-this-out wish list!

Continue reading Notes from the 2014 Nonprofit Software Development Summit

Welcome!

This is my new blog – happy to see you here!
Anyone with interest in technology, justice, rights and transparency is very welcome to read, follow and interact with it.

My aim – at least right now – is to create a space to collect and share write-ups about

  • reflections and researches which might inspire upcoming developments,
  • projects currently in progress,
  • learnings and findings.

The blog is hosted on a website with my name, but I’ll have the pleasure to be joined by co-authors contributing their knowledge and expertise. Most of my work is made of participation and collaboration and I’d like this platform to express it in its own nature, from its content to how it’s produced.

The first articles are just getting ready to be published. Check this space!