Journalists, transform your stories with the magic of audio

Introducing the Data Sonification Toolkit. This resource is designed to break down the barriers to data sonification by providing a centralized space full of resources, guidance and information for journalists to learn all about and engage in this creative data-driven practice. 

Data sonification, the practice of representing data in the form of sound and music, is a unique storytelling method that gives journalists the opportunity to profoundly enhance their work. Sonification leverages the power of audio to stir emotion in a listener, and creates an avenue of accessibility for low-vision or blind individuals. Through intentionally-designed sonification, journalists can guide listeners along a captivating and educational sonic journey. 

This resource is designed to be useful for anyone interested in data sonification, regardless of skill-level. With the side-panel layout, the user can choose whether to navigate the content chronologically or jump to a chapter that is of particular interest. 

The sections of the toolkit consist of identifiable categories, and there is a search feature for finding information quickly. The toolkit covers the basics of data sonification, such as its definition, what it entails, benefits and applications, as well as how to train listeners. The toolkit covers common methods of sonification like parameter mapping and audification.

It categorizes available sonification tools by level of difficulty, and references other tools such as audio editors and sound sample archives. It provides an organized layout of published data sonification resources, whether that be in the format of handbooks, onlines guides, articles, podcast interviews, or recorded presentations. 

This toolkit is designed to be dynamic! I expect it to grow and evolve as more resources are added, and I continue to receive feedback from contributors.

It contains an archive of examples, with particular focus on sonification applications in journalism and podcasts. It includes a sonification workflow roadmap to support users in planning and achieving their sonification project. The toolkit is full of shoutouts to sonification practitioners, as well as active communities in the field. In sharing this project, I hope to provide journalists with the encouragement and information needed to generate their own data-driven sound compositions. 

Over the past several months, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to engage in one-on-one conversations with journalists, designers, data editors, researchers, and podcasters. I’ve been able to collaboratively brainstorm about how data sonification could be applied to their respective fields. I’m grateful for the range of curious, skeptical, and enthusiastic reactions I’ve encountered along the way – it has helped me to develop a comprehensive resource with all of these creative people in mind.

This toolkit is designed to be dynamic! I expect it to grow and evolve as more resources are added, and I continue to receive feedback from contributors.

Looking ahead, I am excited to share this resource to support anyone who is interested in trying data sonification. I intend to develop a workshop in which participants can create their own sonification projects, adapt techniques to different datasets, and use this toolkit as support. I plan to attend conferences and reignite the conversation about sonification. I truly believe that journalism would greatly benefit from the effort to bring resonant data stories to audiences’ ears. If you find this toolkit useful, I’d love to hear from you — and if you’d like support in your data sonification journey, feel free to reach out. 

Finally, a big thank you to the Reynolds Journalism Institute for the enormous support in making this project a reality. 

Cite this article

Walmer, Aura (2025, Feb. 27). Introducing the Data Sonification Toolkit. Reynolds Journalism Institute. Retrieved from: https://rjionline.org/news/introducing-the-data-sonification-toolkit/