In this chapter, we explore the intersection of data journalism practices with issues of (governance) transparency and accountability. We advance the argument that data journalism can be instrumental in helping journalists seek accountability in opaque regimes that have an uneasy relationship with watchdog journalism. We use the Zimbabwe’s post-coup regime to demonstrate that at the centre of political authoritarianism, is a refusal to account, and a culture of non-transparency. Faced with such, the media can utilise publicly available sources of data journalism to exercise their responsibility. Data journalism is, hence, critical as a media practice that provides avenues for journalists in semi-authoritarian regimes to continuously pursue their mandates as accountability seekers. Our chapter contributes to emerging literature on data journalism in Africa, especially in semi-authoritarian contests like that of Zimbabwe.
Data Journalism, Accountability and Transparency in Zimbabwe’s ‘New Dispensation’: Some Empirical Reflections
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