Best Data Story
An ongoing list of data-driven stories and visualizations that made a genuinely complex dataset understandable — original analysis, not a repackaged press release.
What this offers
Real amplification
A feature and link back to your original work, sent to our full readership.
Independent analysts welcome
A solo analyst's published work is read the same way as a large newsroom's data team.
No cost to nominate
Free, whether nominating your own work or someone else's.
Methodology matters
We look at how the data was sourced and analyzed, not just how the chart looks.
Who this is for
Analysts, journalists, and researchers behind a specific piece of original data analysis or visualization published this year.
How it works
- Nominate a piece. A link to the work and what makes the analysis notable.
- An editor reviews the methodology. We look at how the data was sourced and handled.
- Strong nominees are featured. Added to the current list with a link to the original.
- You're notified when it's live. If you submitted the nomination.
Rules & eligibility
- This is free to enter, and always will be — we never charge a submission fee.
- No age, location, industry, or follower-count requirement. Selection is about the work itself, not who you are.
- Submitting doesn't guarantee publication or a reply beyond the automatic confirmation — we get more submissions than we can feature, and we'd rather say that upfront than overpromise.
- One submission per person or company at a time. If it isn't selected, you're welcome to submit again later with something new.
- Selection is editorial, not a queue — we're not obligated to publish every submission, and we won't pad the list with entries that aren't ready.
How do I actually apply?
I link directly to the published piece and explain the specific methodological choice that makes it credible — the data source, the analysis technique, a limitation the author was upfront about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to submit?
No. It's free to submit to Best Data Story, and free to be featured if selected. We don't charge for consideration, and we never will.
How long does it take to hear back?
If your submission is selected, you'll hear from an editor directly. If it isn't, we don't send a rejection notice — the volume we receive makes that impractical.
Can I submit on behalf of someone else?
Only with their knowledge and involvement — we want the real details, and that usually means hearing from the person or team directly.
What happens if I'm not selected?
Nothing gets published without being selected first. Unselected submissions simply aren't used, and you're welcome to submit again later.
Does this run every year?
Yes — Best Data Story is evergreen. It runs all year, every year, with no deadline to catch.
Selection is editorial and unpaid on both sides — no one is charged to submit, and no one is paid for work we publish. Talmyn's editorial standards apply the same way here as everywhere else on the site.
Submit
The current list
The first entries are being reviewed now — check back soon, or be one of the first to submit yours below.