Become a Great Data Storyteller

Unlock the power of data storytelling to create change Become a Great Data Storyteller: Learn How You Can Drive Change with Data is a transformational journey guided by author and researcher Angelica Lo Duca. This insightful guide challenges the conventional approach to data visualization by emphasizing the creation of compelling data stories. With a focus on understanding the audience's needs, this book offers a unique value proposition: teaching you how to weave raw data into engaging, narrative-driven presentations that can significantly impact decision-making and generate organizational change. The author masterfully demonstrates the process of building a data story, from creating relatable characters with clear objectives to tailoring these narratives for specific audiences. You'll discover your role as a narrative guide, learning how to employ the power of context to make your data-driven stories not just informative but captivating. This book sets itself apart by focusing on the human aspect of data storytelling, ensuring your narratives resonate deeply with your audience. In the book, you'll: Learn to craft engaging data narratives that go beyond charts and graphs, making your presentations memorable and impactful Tailor your data stories to meet the specific needs and interests of your audience, enhancing understanding and engagement Position yourself as a pivotal guide in your data stories, using context to turn data into powerful narratives that drive action For anyone looking to elevate their data presentation skills from ordinary to extraordinary, Become a Great Data Storyteller offers the tools and insights you need. Whether you're a professional seeking to influence decision-making or simply passionate about the art of data, this book is your roadmap to becoming an impactful storyteller. Take the first step towards transforming your data into compelling stories that inspire change. Order your copy today and start changing the way you communicate.

Introduction xv  Chapter 1 Why You Need to Become a Data Storyteller 1  The Need for Data Storytelling 2  What Is Data Storytelling? 3  Analyzing a Story 3  Understanding the Data Storytelling Process 6  Making a Data-Driven Story 8  Delivering a Data-Driven Story 9  Case Study: Solstices and Equinoxes 12  Takeaways 16  References 16  Chapter 2 The Role of the Storyteller 19  Who the Data Storyteller Is 20  Three Types of Data Storytellers 22  The Apathetic Data Storyteller 23  The Authoritarian Data Storyteller 24  The Authoritative Data Storyteller 26  The Data Storyteller Skills 27  Humility 28  Sincerity 28  Vulnerability 29  Patience 30  Empathy and Openness 31  Flexibility 32  The Data Storyteller’s Role in the Story 32  The External Data Storyteller 33  The Internal Data Storyteller 33  The Absent Data Storyteller 34  Possible Scenarios in Which to Tell a Story 34  Examples of Great Storytellers 36  Steve Jobs 36  Brené Brown 37  Hans Rosling 37  Takeaways 38  References 39  Chapter 3 Making a Successful Data-Driven Story 41  Preproduction: The Data Story Script 42  Theme 42  Subject 47  Script Implementation 49  Production: Data Story Shot 54  Postproduction: Data Story Editing 56  Working in a Team 58  Takeaways 59  References 59  Chapter 4 First Act: Defining the Hero 61  Who the Hero Is 62  How to Extract the Hero from the Data 64  The Data–Hero Humanity Matrix 65  The Data–Hero Concreteness Matrix 68  Describing the Hero 74  Takeaways 77  References 77  Chapter 5 First Act: Defining the Sidekick 79  Who the Sidekick Is 80  Adding a Sidekick to Your Data Story 81  Discovering the Humanity of Your Hero 84  Presenting the Hero and the Sidekick: The First Act 86  The Hook 90  The Hero 91  The Context 91  The First Act’s Inciting Event 93  The First Act’s Buildup 93  The First Plot Point 94  Takeaways 95  References 95  Chapter 6 Second Act: Defining the Problem 97  Introducing the Problem 98  Problem Types 102  Describe the Problem 105  Communicate the Problem 109  Simplification 110  Use of the Five Senses 112  Takeaways 114  References 114  Chapter 7 Second Act: Defining the Antagonist 117  Who Is the Antagonist? 118  Various Types of Antagonists 121  How to Extract the Antagonist from the Data 124  How to Add the Antagonist to the Story 128  Presenting the Problem: The Second Act 131  Reaction 134  First Pinch Point 134  Second Plot Point 134  Action 135  Second Pinch Point 135  Takeaways 135  References 136  Chapter 8 Third Act: Setting the Climax and Next Steps 137  The Dark Night 139  The Climax 144  Next Steps 150  Structuring the Third Act 152  Takeaways 156  References 156  Chapter 9 From Making to Delivering a Data- Driven Story 159  Completing the Making Phase 161  Production: Data Story Shot 162  Postproduction: Data Story Editing 169  Starting the Delivery Phase 174  Takeaways 176  References 177  Chapter 10 What the Audience Wants and Knows 179  Defining the Audience 180  What the Audience Wants 183  First Plot Point 185  Second Plot Point 187  Next Steps 188  What the Audience Knows 190  Hero 194  Context 195  First Pinch Point 196  Action 197  Dark Night 198  Takeaways 199  References 200  Chapter 11 What the Audience Thinks 203  Introducing the Audience’s Thoughts 204  The Stomach-Heart-Brain Theory 209  Adapting Your Story 215  Hook 216  Inciting Event 218  Buildup 220  Reaction 221  Second Pinch Point 222  Climax 223  Takeaways 224  References 224  Chapter 12 Retelling the Story 227  Introduction to Retelling 229  You as the New Narrator of the Story 232  The Channel 233  Time 235  The Context 236  The Audience as the New Narrator of the Story 237  When the Audience Retells the Story 238  Why the Audience Retells the Story 238  Final Thoughts 239  Takeaways 241  References 241  Index 243