Data Visualization Storyteller

The Hub, one of Canada’s most visited independent news sites, is expanding and looking to hire a full-time data visualization storyteller based in Toronto.

Working under the supervision and direction of the managing editor, the successful candidate will produce news and analysis by drawing on different sources of data to better understand economic, social, and political trends in Canada.

Special consideration will be given to candidates with a background in journalism.

Candidates must have a keen interest and understanding of public policy issues including economics, Canadian politics, and geopolitics. They will possess a deep desire to tell stories through data visualizations. They will have proven expertise in researching, conceptualizing and visualizing complex data sets into compelling graphic treatments.

The successful candidate will have a proven ability to write, meet deadlines and respond to breaking news. The creativity and ability to display data and create graphics in new and interesting ways is a key asset.

The Hub is interested in telling news stories in new ways. The successful candidate will be able to use data and evidence to go beyond the “who, what, and where” of conventional reporting and help The Hub’s audience truly understand the “why” and the “how” of news events related to Canadian and international economic, political and geopolitical topics. The goal for this position is to provide The Hub’s sophisticated readers with original, well researched analysis and context on important issues facing the country.

The Hub’s mission is to produce news, analysis and insights about a dynamic and better future for Canada. We regularly report and comment on economics, politics, culture, democratic institutions, foreign affairs, healthcare, and the environment. The Hub sees itself as a growing part of the national conversation. We are policy focussed, and increasingly want to be data driven.

Skills:

• You have an ability to efficiently read through publicly available data, whether it’s in a Statistics Canada report or a bank forecast, and identify and extract interesting content.
• You are able to convert interesting data into static or interactive infographics and charts, coupled with well written text that contextualizes and explains the findings. Think of this as a streamlined written narrative enhanced by visualization that accentuates the words.
• Strong journalism judgment, accuracy, and objectivity.
• You have a good understanding of business and economics, as 60 percent of your story output will fall within the economics beat.
• You can write clearly and effectively.
• You are comfortable experimenting.
• You can pitch with ease.
• You have an attention to detail.
• Experience with data software like Datawrapper, R, or Python.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets
• You are able to work with online publishing tools such asWordPress.
• You stay on top of the news and current affairs daily.
• You are curious and have a deep desire to tell stories in a unique way.
• You are self-motivated and independent, but also a team player who works well with other journalists and writers.
• Excellent organizational skills and an attention to detail.
• You are savvy on social media, as the majority of our traffic comes from social and we want to make our visualizations sharable.

Experience:

• At least two years of journalism or journalism-related experience.
• A university or college degree.
• An understanding of the Hub’s identity and mission.

Successful candidate will work 4 days a week in our Toronto office at Queen and John St.

If you don’t think you meet all these qualifications but think you could still contribute to this role in a meaningful way, feel free to drop us a line.

Thank you for your interest.

Interested candidates can submit their resumes, a cover note stating they found this job on Jeff Gaulin's Journalism Job Board, and samples of their work by March 4th to: