Data Journalism Portfolio Task 2 2026/27: Tableau Dashboard and Editorial Pitch with European Social Survey Data | SETU

Data Journalism Portfolio Task 2 (2026/27): Tableau Data Dashboard and Editorial Pitch Using the European Social Survey

In this task you work as a data journalist on an Irish editorial team. Your editor wants to know whether public attitudes or experiences in Ireland, as shown in the European Social Survey (ESS), point to a story worth pursuing. You choose one theme, build an interactive Tableau dashboard and use it to pitch a short public-interest story.

Practical Context

Select ONE ESS theme, investigate a focused public-interest question and build a dashboard that makes the evidence clear enough to support an editorial pitch. Possible themes include trust in institutions, democracy, immigration, health and wellbeing, climate attitudes or media use. Check that your chosen ESS round(s) contain the variables you need; all interpretation must be grounded in the ESS data you analyse.

Part A: Tableau Dashboard for Editorial Exploration (40 marks)

1. Include 5–7 purposeful visualisations using at least THREE suitable chart forms (for example bars, lines, dot plots, distributions, or maps only where geographically meaningful).
2. Include at least TWO functional interactive features, such as a country/round filter and an age-group filter or highlight action.
3. Show at least TWO meaningful comparisons (countries, age groups or survey rounds) and signpost 2–3 evidence-based findings that could inform an editor’s decision.
4. Use accurate calculations, meaningful titles, clearly labelled measures, appropriate denominators and scales, legible design and accessible colours; avoid repeated metrics and text-heavy crosstabs.
5. Note the ESS source, round(s), survey period and geographic scope on the dashboard; filters must not create misleading comparisons or titles.

Marks reward editorial usefulness and reliable analysis, not the number of charts: keep it simple, purposeful and readable.

Part B: Editorial Pitch (25 marks)

1. A working headline and a clear central story angle or question, written for a named publication.
2. At least TWO specific, correctly expressed findings from your dashboard and why they are newsworthy (with a dashboard screenshot in the appendix).
3. Why the story deserves further reporting, naming one appropriate expert and one affected group or person to approach, and what each might add or challenge.

Part C: Dashboard Rationale, Verification and Limitations (15 marks)

1. For each visualisation, a brief rationale (about 50–75 words) on the measure, why the chart suits it and the editorial insight it supports.
2. Evidence of TWO spot-checks of chart values against the dataset or a separate summary calculation, with the values and how you checked them.
3. Limitations or cautions (such as survey sampling or missing data) and how they shape editorial claims.

Deliverables and Guidelines

• One Tableau packaged workbook (.twbx) that opens independently, with the worksheets and data connection needed for inspection.
• The cleaned dataset (.csv or .xlsx) where used, with a short note on how it was derived from the ESS download.
• One PDF export of the dashboard (static record; the .twbx is used to assess interactivity).
• One report (900 words ±10%) covering Parts B and C, with cover page and word count, Calibri 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing, page numbers and Harvard referencing.
• AI may support preliminary research only; it must not generate or substitute for your ESS data, analysis, findings or pitch, and any use must be disclosed in an appendix.

The grading rubric marks the dashboard, the editorial pitch and the rationale/verification/limitations section across bands from Excellent (70–100%) to Fail (below 40%); check the final mark split on Blackboard, as the rubric weights differ from the part headings.

Get Expert Help with Data Journalism Portfolio Task 2

Start from one sharp question, for example whether trust in the Dáil differs between younger and older adults across ESS rounds, and only build charts that answer it. Weight the data with the ESS design or post-stratification weights, report percentages with clear denominators, and record two spot-checks as you go so Part C writes itself. Then let the pitch lead with your strongest finding, name the publication, and choose an expert and an affected group who could test that finding.

Our university assignment help in Ireland and report writing help for the editorial pitch can guide your analysis plan, rationale and Harvard referencing. For another SETU brief, see the SETU logistics management assignment or the B8IT154 data analytics continuous assessment.

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