Telling Public Stories with Data

Telling Public Stories with Data

Telling Public Stories with Data
Mastering Public Communication in the AI Age Series
Artificial Intelligence

Telling Public Stories with Data

DateJanuary 27, 2026, 2:00 PM ET
Duration60-minutes

Data visuals are central to how the public understands complex information. This session introduces best practices for designing clear, accurate, and trustworthy data stories in government communication. Participants will examine what works, and what doesn’t, when presenting data to the public, exploring how visuals can clarify or distort meaning depending on design choices and context. 

This session is designed for public professionals who develop, review, or share data-driven communication and want to strengthen their ability to use visuals responsibly to inform and build trust.

 

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Assess the qualities that make data visuals clear, accurate, compelling and trustworthy in public communication.

  • Distinguish between effective and misleading uses of data visualization, recognizing how framing and context shape public understanding.

  • Understand  the risks associated with using – and disclosing the use of – AI-assisted tools in representing data and the value of highlighting sound human judgment in visual storytelling.

John Wihbey

John Wihbey

Director of the AI-Media Strategies Lab (AIMES Lab) & Associate Professor, Northeastern University

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Lee Rainie

Lee Rainie

Director, Elon University's Imagining the Digital Future Center

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This workshop is part of the Mastering Public Communication in the AI Age Series