Lena V. Groeger

I'm a journalist, designer and developer living in the Bay Area. I'm the graphics director at ProPublica, where I edit charts and visual stories. I teach classes and workshops on design, coding and data visualization, and sometimes write or speak about them.

Feel free to get in touch! You can send me an or find me on the internet:

For people interested in using data, design and code for journalism, I've put together a big list of resources for getting started. I hope it's useful!

Work

Talks & Teaching

2021

Data Equity & Visualization: Talk at UC Berkeley Data Journalism class, Berkeley

2020

Show Me Your Data: Workshop at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference

2019

Design Thinking for Journalists: Workshop at NICAR Conference, Newport Beach

Charts, Gifs & How to Make Them: Workshop at Northwestern's Bay Area Immersion Program, San Francisco

2018

How designer Lena Groeger exposed Trump's lies using stylish infographics: Interview with Digital Arts

Charts & Datawrapper: Workshop for UC Berkeley's Data Immersion Boot Camp, Berkeley

Visualizing Data 1 & 2: Workshop at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference, Miami

ProPublica Data Institute: Two-week workshop on data, design & coding at ProPublica, New York

Design for Non-Designers: Talk at NICAR Conference, Chicago

Data Journalism & Gifs: Workshop at Northwestern's Bay Area Immersion Program, San Francisco

2017

Frontiers in Data Visualization: Talk at the Global Investigative Journalism Conference, Johannesburg

Creating Timelines: Workshop at the Global Investigative Journalism Conference, Johannesburg

Intro To Data Journalism: Workshop at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference, Anaheim

Design For Non-Designers: Talk at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference, Anaheim

ProPublica's Lena Groeger on data visualization & design: Interview with Jon Keegan of the Tow Center

Lena Groeger: Developer, designer, and journalist at ProPublica: Interview with Ivana McConnell of Origins

ProPublica Data Institute: Two-week workshop on data, design & coding at ProPublica, New York

Let’s Make Some Gifs: Tutorial at NICAR Conference, Jacksonville

Data Visualization Gifs: Workshop at NICAR Conference, Jacksonville

When the Storyteller Shows Up in the Story: Talk at Tapestry Conference, St. Augustine

2016

Underreported Data Stories: Panel at Visualized Conference, New York

Meat Charts: Talk at Information+ Conference, Vancouver

ProPublica Data Institute: Two-week Data, Design & Coding Workshop at ProPublica, New York

Make a Website from Scratch: Workshop at New York University, New York

Seeing the Error of Your Ways: Talk at Malofiej Conference, Spain

Six Questions with Lena Groeger: Interview with Andy Kirk of Visualising Data

Intro to Data Journalism: Workshop at New York University, New York

Visualizing Data: Course at The New School, Journalism + Design, New York

2015

Design & Social Graphics: Workshop at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, New York

Design for Journalists: Talk at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, New York

Use Science for Better Data Journalism Projects: Talk at Data Labs Conference, Germany

Design Principles for News Apps: Workshop at Global Investigative Journalism Conference, Norway

Data Viz for Journalists: Talk at Global Investigative Journalism Conference, Norway

Intro to Data & Code: Workshop at National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference, Orlando FL

Visualizing Data: Course at The New School, Journalism + Design, New York

Design & Presentation: Course at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, New York

How to Build Better Newsrooms with Better Language: Workshop at SRCCON Conference, Minneapolis

Make Photoshop Work For You: Workshop at Investigative Reporters and Editors Conference, Philadelphia

That’s the Power of Loops: Talk at OpenVis Conference, Boston

Design/Viz: What to Do, What Not to Do: Workshop at NICAR Conference, Atlanta

How to Use Loops to Explain Anything + Gifs: Workshop at NICAR Conference, Atlanta

Making Timelines: Workshop at NICAR Conference, Atlanta

Data Visualization & Design: Workshop at New York University, New York

2014

Data Journalism: Workshop at the Czech Centre for Investigative Journalism, Prague

Women and Code: Talk at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York

Think Small: the Power of Wee Things: Talk at OpenVis Conference, Boston

Impact, or, things I've learned about telling stories at ProPublica: Talk at Data Visualization Meetup, New York

DataViz for everyone: A practical guide to going responsive: Talk at NICAR Conference, Baltimore

2013

Science Journalism: Talk at World Conference of Science Journalists, Helsinki

Coding for the Future: The Rise of Hacker Journalism: Talk at West Virginia University, West Virginia

Timelines: Workshop at NICAR Conference, Louisville

CAR and News Apps: Talk at NICAR Conference, Louisville

Data Visualization: Workshop at ScienceOnline Conference, Raleigh

Awards, Recognition & Memberships

2021

States are Reopening: Bronze Medal, Malofiej

2020

Contribution to coronavirus pandemic coverage: Finalist, Pulitzer Prize for Public Service

What Coronavirus Job Losses Reveal About Racism in America: Sigma Delta Chi Award, Society of Professional Journalists

2019

Board Member, At-Large Director, Society for News Design

2018

Impressive Individual Award, Information is Beautiful

Bombs in Our Backyard: Winner for Outstanding Environmental Reporting, Society of Environmental Journalists

Judge, Society for News Design Digital Competition

Program Committee Member, OpenVis

Board Member, At-Large Director, Society for News Design

Conference Track Leader, National Association of Hispanic Journalists

2017

Evictions: Finalist, Livingston Awards for Young Journalists

Best Individual Portfolio: Finalist, GEN Data Awards

Lost Cause: Silver Medal, Malofiej

Program Committee Member, OpenVis

Board Member, At-Large Director, Society for News Design

2016

Insult to Injury: Winner in Explanatory, Loeb Award

Insult to Injury: Winner for Public Service and Finalist in Business Investigative Reporting, Deadline Club

Insult to Injury: Winner of IRE Medal Print/Online Large, Investigative Reporters and Editors

Insult to Injury: Finalist, Livingston Awards for Young Journalists

Workers Comp Benefits: How Much is a Limb Worth? Bronze Medal, Malofiej

Board Member, At-Large Director, Society for News Design

2015

Insult to Injury: Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Online News Association

Treatment Tracker: Silver Medal, Society for News Design

Individual Portfolio Award, Society for News Design

2014

The Prescribers: Philip Meyer Award, Investigative Reporters and Editors

ER Wait Watcher: Finalist in Health Care Reporting, Online News Association

Overdose: Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Online News Association

ER Wait Watcher: Silver Medal, Malofiej

Individual Portfolio Award, Society for News Design

2013

Pipeline Safety Tracker: Silver Medal, Society for News Design

Nursing Home Inspect: Silver Medal, Society for News Design

Individual Portfolio Award, Society for News Design