Hi, I'm

Gianna-Carina Grün

As a data-journalist, I turn datasets into stories that matter. I'm mainly working for DW Data, the data-driven journalism team that I founded in 2017 and develop further since. Beyond that, I also work as a data journalism trainer for both experienced journalists as well as journalist trainees. In my spare time, I'm pursuing a PhD investigating how well elaborate chart types are understood – and how we might improve that as practitioners.

Publications

When I'm not editing or working on strategic tasks, sometimes I get the chance to also write and publish stories. Here's a preview:

CV & Skills

Experience

  • Head of DW Data — Deutsche Welle (2017–Present)
  • Data Journalism Trainer — Freelance (2017–Present)
  • Freelance Author - Der Kontext(2016–2021)
  • Senior Online Editor at Life Links — Deutsche Welle (2014–2015)
  • Multimedia Editor at Global Ideas — Deutsche Welle (2012–2015)
  • Freelance Author — Zeit Online, Ressort Wissen (2011–2013)

Download full CV (one page pdf)

Skills & Tools

  • Python (pandas, matplotlib, scikit learn)
  • Data Visualization (altair, d3.js, Datawrapper, Adobe Illustrator)
  • Webscraping and API queries
  • QGIS for geospatial analysis
  • Data cleaning (Regular Expressions, Open Refine)
  • Spreadsheet softwares (Google Sheets, Excel, Open Office)
  • Workshop & curriculum design

Speaking engagements

  • Dataharvest (2025): Using free tools to automate your data flows from source to chart (Github Repo)
  • netzwerk recherche (2024): Interaktive Datenvisualisierungen für ein internationales Publikum? (Slides)
  • Dataharvest (2023): How do we make charts that people understand? (Slides)
  • SciCar (2023): Insights from early career journalism researchers (Pecha Kucha format) (Slides)
  • Datavis Meetup Berlin (2023): Data-driven journalism for a global audience (Slides)
  • SciCar (2022): Lightning paper (Slides)
  • DW Akademie (2020): Data jouranlism in times of the coronavirus (YouTube video)
  • iMedD / Columbia Journalism School - Newsroom Essentials (2019): How to create a data driven story (YouTube video) and How we investigated German political party donations (YouTube Video)
  • NICAR (2019): One size doesn't fit all - How to make multilingual DDJ work (Slides)

Teaching assignments

I have led both short workshops as well as longer seminars stretching over several days. I can teach in German and English and have experience with educating international groups of all skill levels. This is a selection of teaching assignments:

  • TU Dortmund University: Python for (Data)Journalists | week-long course (2022, 2023, 2024)
  • TU Dortmund University: Research and Data Sources | four 2-day blocks (2022, 2023)
  • Henri-Nannen-Schule: Data Journalism Basics & Practice | 2-day course + 1 bonus day (2022, 2024)
  • Journalistische Nachwuchsförderung (JONA/KAS): Data Journalism Basics & Practice | four-day training, in-person or remote (various years)