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.
Table of Contents
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
