“Open data” and “big data” are the current buzzwords, but does the public know what these terms really mean, or are they the preserve of nerds, developers and policy wonks? Jonathan Stoneman has spent the last six months analysing the impact of open data on journalism, and has written a working paper for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Even he was surprised by some of his findings.

Jonathan is an Associate Trainer at the ODI. He was a journalist and editor as well as Head of Training at BBC World Service until 2010. As a freelance trainer and consultant he specialises in data journalism with open data. Jonathan is a contributor to the book “Data journalism: Mapping the Future”, which is being published on 4 November.