With the intent to safeguard the European values through proficiency in DJ for educators, the industry and the European citizens, JOULE aimed to create an international job profile to give the data journalist the possibility to work and move all around Europe. The pan-European field is the context where the journalist can work in traditional and electronic newspapers, magazines, web blogs or supporting civil organisations and enterprises. Data journalism competences are interesting even for non-data journalists. This kind of competence also allows normal citizens to understand news, information and infographics better, thus participating in public debates with greater awareness. Thus, JOULE had wide-scope objectives such as upskilling professionals in the industry and educating EU citizens and this was achieved through a joint blended curriculum in DJ courses, which meant to equip students with the necessary competences to cope with future digital challenges and to create an additional value for the enterprises and industries where they would be employed. To achieve these general goals, JOULE had to reach subordinate objectives, such as: - defining core competencies for DJ citizens. - promoting a course design process based on ac
Data Journalism combines a technical approach to data based on finding “answers to questions" and the search of patterns and anomalies with the journalistic approach to research "interesting questions". DJ allows telling otherwise untold stories and increasing confidence in published news; indeed, nowadays the most important news media have their own data newsrooms. The use of data analysis and visualization concerns communication in general of both enterprises and institutions promoting transparency and accountability in their relationship with citizens. JOULE attempted to meet five specific NEEDS: -THE TRAINING GAP: between the training of traditional journalists and the skills needed in the digital context. -THE ACADEMIC GAP: Universities have various degrees in Data Science, few in Data Journalism. -THE STANDARDIZATION GAP: there is no well-defined academic curriculum on data journalism especially in the South of Europe. -THE ILLITERACY GAP: citizens and students gather information from 'the net' without any competence to assess how they are manipulated by algorithms. -THE DEMOCRATIC GAP: citizens need to exercise their democratic rights while understanding the value of news items in social media or more traditional media.