Data storytelling examples

Data storytelling is about using data to tell a clear, compelling story — not just showing the numbers, but helping people understand what they mean as they read and scroll.

Shorthand lets you create web-native stories that combine text, visuals and interactive charts into a single immersive experience. As readers move through the page, you can reveal insights step by step, using narrative and motion to guide attention and build understanding.

Shorthand has a built-in chart builder that makes it simple to create beautiful, animated charts by uploading source data in CSV format — no code and no special libraries required. The drag-and-drop editor also lets you quickly build clean, responsive tables that are designed specifically for the web.

You can go further by combining charts and tables with rich visual storytelling elements like interactive maps and visual timelines.

No — Shorthand is designed for teams who want to publish high-quality digital stories without relying on developers.

You can build data-rich, interactive stories using an intuitive editor and ready-to-use templates, with full control over layout, design and multimedia. If you do have access to developers, Shorthand also supports embeds and custom integrations for more advanced projects.

Yes. Shorthand supports embeds, making it easy to include visualisations from tools like Tableau, Flourish, Datawrapper and more.

This means you can keep using your preferred data tools while taking advantage of Shorthand’s immersive storytelling format — combining interactivity and narrative in one cohesive experience. Some of the examples on this page showcase particularly effective uses of third-party embeds — get in touch with our team to learn more about what’s possible.

Dashboards are great for exploration, but they often assume the audience already understands the context. Data storytelling is different — it’s about guiding readers through what the data shows, what it means, and what they should take away.

Shorthand helps you turn complex information into engaging, narrative-led stories that are easier to understand, more memorable, and more shareable than a dashboard alone — with up to 10 times higher engagement. Because Shorthand stories are fully responsive and web-native, they also support SEO, GEO and accessibility.

Teams use Shorthand for a wide range of projects, including:

• Editorial features and longform journalism
• Research publications and policy explainers
• Annual reports and impact reports
• Brand storytelling and branded content
• Educational content and public-facing insights
• Interactive reports for internal communications

Whether you’re sharing a single key insight or exploring a complex topic, Shorthand helps you present data in a way that keeps people reading.

Yes. Shorthand offers a gallery of professionally-designed templates and example stories to help you get started quickly.

You can choose a template that suits your content, then customise the layout, design, and data visualisations to match your story and your brand.

Sign up to create a free account and get started.

Shorthand stories are designed to be responsive, so your content adapts beautifully across desktop, tablet and mobile devices. Shorthand's easy-to-use preview mode lets you see exactly how your story will look on different screen sizes as you build.

Getting started is straightforward. Choose a template and upload your text and data into Shorthand’s built-in chart and table builders — or use third-party embeds and animated sections like Reveal to add depth and motion to your story.

Sign up to create a free account and get started.