Innovation award for developer-journalist Charles Boutaud

The School would like to congratulate Charles Boutaud and his colleagues at The Bureau Local who have won 'Innovation of the Year' at the British Journalism Awards 2017.

Charles, who studied MSc Computational Journalism (now Computational and Data Journalism), is one of the UK's first developer-journalists.

The Google sponsored award recognised eight investigations on topics ranging from Theresa May’s snap general election, intensive mega-farms, farm pollution and immigration checks.

The judges said, “The Bureau Local has found a new way to do things previously thought difficult or impossible, and a way of being efficient at a time when resources are in short supply.”

Since its launch in March this year The Bureau Local, which is part of The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, has built a network of 450 people across the country who collaborate on data-led stories at a local and national level.

Cardiff University's MSc Computational and Data Journalism degree was the first in the UK to combine traditional journalistic research skills and programming knowledge. The degree is delivered jointly by the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies and the School of Computer Science and Informatics.

Course co-director Glyn Mottershead said, "This is a fantastic achievement and we warmly congratulate Charles.

"Not only is Charles working at the cutting edge of data driven journalism, he is using his skills to ensure otherwise underreported news stories essential to local communities are being properly investigated and reported."

The British Journalism Awards, managed by Press Gazette, we're held on 11 December 2017 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London.

Photo Credit: Press Gazette.