Structural and Professional Challenges of Data Journalism in Spain
This study offers an overview of data journalism in Spain more than a decade after its integration into newsrooms. Based on 12 in-depth interviews with data journalists, editors, and one academic, triangulated with 38 studies published between 2012 and 2025, it examines the main challenges shaping the field. The literature review also informed the design of the interview protocol, as questions for journalists were derived from gaps and themes identified in prior research. Findings show persistent misalignments between university curricula and newsroom needs, with master’s programs functioning more as market filters than democratizing training opportunities. Legally, the 2013 Transparency Law expanded access but remains weakened by the absence of sanctions, territorial fragmentation, and bureaucratic delays. Adaptive practices, such as filing highly detailed requests, continue to define professional routines. At the organizational level, data journalism has gone through cycles of boom and stagnation, often driven by leadership and crises like COVID-19. Artificial intelligence accelerates production but raises verification demands and reinforces programming requirements. Overall, data journalism demonstrates strong social value and editorial impact, yet its sustainability depends on addressing training gaps, strengthening transparency, and consolidating stable organizational models.
Moreno Mella, A., & Condeza Dall ’Orso, R. (2025). Structural and Professional Challenges of Data Journalism in Spain. Journalism Practice, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2025.2577695