Data Journalism Appropriation in African Newsrooms: A Comparative Study of Botswana and Namibia

Data journalism has received relatively limited academic attention in Southern Africa, with even less focus on smaller countries such as Botswana and Namibia. This article seeks to address this gap by exploring how selected newsrooms in these countries have engaged with data journalism, the ways it has enhanced their daily news reporting, and its impact on newsgathering and production routines. The study reveals varied patterns in the adoption of technology for data journalism across the two contexts. While certain skills remain underdeveloped, efforts to train journalists in data journalism have been evident. These findings support the argument that in emerging economies, the uneven adoption of data journalism technologies is influenced by exposure to these tools and practices. Additionally, the integration of data journalism technologies aligns with journalists’ professional preferences and priorities, while the financial resources of newsrooms significantly shape the extent to which technology-driven practices like data journalism are embraced.