What is a powerful starting point for creating a story as a Data Storyteller?

The powerful starting point for creating a story as a Data Storyteller is the research question(s). This is because the research questions guide the overall narrative and shape the direction of the analysis. They help identify the specific problems or needs that the data aims to address. By centering the story around these questions, a Data Storyteller can craft a narrative that is focused and relevant to the audience, ensuring that the story not only presents data but also contextualizes it in a way that the audience can understand and relate to.

While other elements like stakeholder interviews, visualizations, and conclusions are important in the storytelling process, they typically come into play after the research questions have been established. Stakeholder interviews can help refine and better understand the context of these questions, visualizations are tools used to present data findings effectively, and conclusions summarize insights derived from the analysis. However, without clear research questions, the purpose of the analysis and the story being told can become muddled or unfocused. Thus, starting with the research questions lays a solid foundation for an impactful and meaningful data narrative.