With its new initiative, the Associated Press's goal is to enable a greater variety of news outlets to use data journalism to better inform the public. To achieve this, AP will increase its distribution of data sets, which include localized information, to thousands of news organizations. It also will increase collaborative projects with newsrooms across the country.

As part of its data-driven journalism project, funded by a $400,000 grant, AP will add data journalism best practices to its 2017 Associated Press Stylebook. The addendum will emphasize style, ethnics and standards for data journalism. AP received the grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. 

“Data has become essential to the 21st century newsroom,” said Brian Carovillano, AP’s vice president for U.S. news, said in an AP blog post. “The volume of data available grows exponentially each year, but this comes as many news organizations are grappling with challenges that make retraining staff and reallocating resources more difficult than ever. Our goal is to help them be part of this revolution.”

AP will add data journalists and expand the kind of data-driven projects it did with community flood insurance rates and oil and gas drilling on tribal lands. The news service also will provide innovative storytelling, content and value to a wider variety of new organizations.

“In the digital age, a smart data strategy can help news organizations with everything from breaking news to richer storytelling,” said Shazna Nessa, Knight Foundation director for journalism. “The Associated Press has already made great strides in helping news organizations apply data to their work; with more resources they have the potential to help create a standard for better data journalism and support stronger, more informed communities into the future.”