Tips on cross-border data collection for journalists in Europe

Building the dataset is the first, indispensable step to take when setting up a new investigation, especially if the topic is new and not really well-covered. Starting from the experience they got by carrying out their cross-border investigation The non-voter time bomb, our partners from Divergente are now sharing the lessons they learnt to help others who want to embark on a similar journey.

The most important thing is to have a clear and defined schedule: for example, having a synopsis of the project will be incredibly helpful in convincing partners that the project is worth their time and effort. Similarly, the choice about what data to collect, how, and why, should be driven by the scope of the investigation.

Precision and a detailed overview of the project should be consistently present through the whole project: therefore, an editable spreadsheet for data collection, and a shared document to discuss adjustments and exceptions should be your best friends.

Obviously, the research questions and the methodology should be openly stated since the very beginning of the project, because they will guide the whole research. However, don’t forget that there may be stories that data cannot unveil: treat numbers with caution!

You can download the PDF and check all the tips and tricks by Divergente here!