In his book How Charts Lie, Alberto Cairo, professor of visual journalism at the University of Miami, warns that a slick chart can add a veneer of authority to shoddy or misleading data. "For some reason people assume that numbers and, as an extension of numbers the graphics that represent them, are objective and carry truth," he says.
"Sure, visualisations are amazing and they can open your eyes to insights you hadn’t noticed before but they need to be approached as carefully as written text or speech...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.