Normalising inconsistent, messy, or incomplete data is tedious and time-consuming, but essential. AI can handle grunt work, but editorial decisions remain with the journalist.

The emergence of Kukurigo during Zimbabwe’s 2018 elections marked a turning point for digital journalism, transforming WhatsApp from a hub for misinformation into a vital platform for verified news. By leveraging the app’s low data costs, this grassroots initiative bridged the information gap for under-resourced communities, establishing a new model for media credibility and public service within an unstable political landscape.

Data journalism is about much more than just sorting through facts and figures. In the first part of our series, we look at what constitutes data-based storytelling