For journalists
We welcome journalists to explore and use our database and website. Just remember to Cite us and if you use any of the graphics, note the source as the Mapineq Link database (see How to Cite Us).
Are you up against a deadline but have a hunch that we might the information you need? Take a walk through one of our online tutorials, read one of our case studies that unpacks a story of the data and how to interpret it or just dive right in and start playing with the interactive map.
Ten things the Mapineq Link database can do for journalists
- Beautiful and colourful visualisations to bring the point home to your readers. You can map all sorts of differences across Europe or you might want to drill down to very small regional differences within a country. We have it for you on our interactive dashboard with just a few clicks of a mouse. You are then free to embed it into your article.
- Exploratory sandbox to uncover your next 'scoop' about regional or country-level differences. Our easy-to-use interactive dashboard gives you the freedom to visually explore geographic differences, from country differences in spending to unemployment or cause of death rates in small regions.
- Go beyond the mundane and obvious to visually show the relationship between two factors. It can be hard to get across the point about how different factors are associated or related to one another. For example, you might know that certain regional areas have high pollution. But so what? The bivariate plot function in our Mapineq interactive dashboard allows you to go beyond just showing that there are certain areas where air pollution is high to graphing the association with multiple outcomes like health, deaths or educational achievement. See our case study as an example.
- Inspiration from our case studies. Our case studies bring the possibilities to life by discussing a multitude of topics and geospatial possibilities. We unpack examples like pandemic preparedness by geography, the link between air pollution and educational achievement, regional economic uncertainty in the labour market and fertility and how urban green spaces are linked to health outcomes.
- Multiple reliable measures: Understanding the various measures used to measure regional inequalities is crucial. Using Mapineq Link, journalists can explore multiple metrics such as GDP per capita, income, labour market or even environmental differences such as levels of pollution or green space. Each measure offers different insights into economic conditions and disparities among regions
- Multiple Data Sources all in one place: Identifying reliable data sources is essential for accurate and good journalism but it is often hard to find the different sources. Journalists need to consider where the data comes from (e.g., government statistics, Eurostat, OECD reports) and its granularity (e.g., NUTS2 level) to ensure that their analysis reflects true regional conditions
- Drive home the importance of contextual factors: It’s important to analyze the underlying factors contributing to regional inequalities, such as historical economic structures, demographic changes, geographic remoteness, and access to resources. Understanding these elements helps explain why certain regions lag behind others and informs potential policy responses. Disparities affect people's lives, including access to services like healthcare and education, job opportunities, and overall quality of life. This perspective can help humanize the data and emphasize the real-world implications of regional inequality.
- Highlight policy Implications: Journalists can investigate how regional inequalities impact policy decisions at both national and local levels or conversely, how different approaches have shaped these inequalities. This includes examining how governments plan to address these disparities through funding allocations, infrastructure investments, and educational initiatives aimed at boosting local economies
- Comparative Analysis: Comparing regional inequalities across different countries or regions can provide valuable insights. Journalists can highlight how certain areas perform relative to others within a country or in comparison to similar regions in different countries, shedding light on best practices and lessons learned
- Public Perception and Impact: Finally, understanding public sentiment regarding regional inequalities is critical. Journalists should explore how these disparities affect people's lives, including access to services like healthcare and education, job opportunities, and overall quality of life. This perspective can help humanize the data and emphasize the real-world implications of regional inequality