Open Data in Data Journalism: Opportunities and Future Directions.

This commentary focuses on the relationship between data journalism and open data (OD), emphasizing the need for communication scholars to investigate how and why data journalists engage with the growing availability of open research and government data online. It highlights that while data journalists rely heavily on government data, they face significant challenges accessing high-quality, usable datasets, and their use of open research data remains limited. The authors argue that data journalism and OD share values such as transparency and democratic engagement, suggesting potential mutual benefits if barriers to data access and use are addressed. They call for more precise, context-sensitive research to better understand data journalists' practices with OD and to support the development of resources and policies that facilitate effective data-driven reporting across diverse national and institutional settings.