DATA JOURNALISM IN HEALTH REPORTING IN BANGLADESH: PATTERN OF PRACTICES, IMPEDIMENTS AND PREPARATIONS FOR JOURNALISTS

Abstract

Data journalism, with its ability to provide macro and micro-scale perspectives on health care, redefined health reporting during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Under these circumstances, health has taken the place of high significance. Consequently, the curiosity to see how data journalism is exercised while covering health issues in Bangladesh led to the idea of this study. This investigation aimed to shed light on how data journalism was applied while reporting on health in Bangladeshi media. The study was conducted following a mixed-method approach; quantitative data through content analysis and qualitative data through key informant interviews. The news published in August and September of 2022 in online editions of The Business Standard, the Prothom Alo, the Daily Star and the Ittefaq; was taken for content analysis. Additionally, four key informant interviews with academicians, journalism trainers and media development experts were conducted.