Abstract

Is data journalism really taking hold in Italy? This paper analyses which specific form of data journalism is used by Italian newspapers, especially in relation with the concept of «news». Out of 168 stories collected over a period of 14 days coinciding with Paris attacks of November 2015, 58 stories were breaking the news and 110 concerned other subjects. The research gives a rating of the quality of the data elements found, in terms of complexity and aesthetic appeal and it shows how data journalism is linked with the importance of sourcing, which deeply affects the way the news stories are elaborated. The evidence shows that the usage of data elements in the stories examined is both informative and decorative, but the forms in which data are presented don't indicate a deep impact of data journalism on newspapers.