The Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s Big Tech Reporter Niamh McIntyre has been working with data for eight years — but it all stemmed from an “arbitrary choice” at university. She spoke to MA Data Journalism student Leyla Reynolds about how she got started in the field, why you don’t need to be a maths whizz to excel, and navigating the choppy waters of the newsroom. 

Starting out on any new path can be daunting, but in the minutes before my phone call with Niamh McIntyre, I’m acutely aware that upping sticks to Birmingham and training in data journalism at the grand old age of 29 is nothing less than a tremendous luxury.

A younger me might have — would have — quaked at such a scenario, so I’m keen to know more about Niamh’s work, which ranges from investigating the gig work industry to private children’s homes.