About DataTales

DataTales turns UK public data into short, readable stories: what changed, who moved, and what stands out. It is written and run by Ammar Asif.

Where the data comes from

Stories use published datasets from official and open sources such as the Office for National Statistics. Each story links to its source and says when the data was fetched.

How the numbers are checked

• Every number is calculated by code from the source data, never typed in by hand.
• The raw file is stored untouched, with a checksum, and cleaned using a written, versioned recipe.
• Before a story is published, every figure in the text is checked automatically against the calculated values. A story with an unmatched number cannot be approved.
• A person reviews and approves every story before it goes live.

The “Source & method” box at the end of each story shows the source, the fetch date and the cleaning recipe version.

Corrections

If you spot a mistake, please get in touch. Corrections are made openly and the story’s “last updated” date changes.