We’re thrilled to announce the winners of the 2021 Data Literacy Awards, chosen by popular vote from among the shortlist candidates nominated by the general public. These exemplary winners helped us speak the language of data even more fluently in 2021, and we’d like to congratulate all of them for being awarded this distinction.

Without further ado, here are this years winners!

1. Most Insightful Data Book (for books published in 2021)

2021 Winner: The Big Picture by Steve Wexler

In The Big Picture, top data visualization consultant Steve Wexler provides the tools for developing the graphical literacy you need to understand the data visualizations that are flooding your inbox―and put that data to use. Packed with the best four-color examples created in Excel, Tableau, Power BI, and Qlik, among others.

2021 Runner-Up: Better Data Visualizations by Jon Schwabish

2. Most Helpful Video Channel

2021 Winner: DATAcated with Kate Strachnyi

Focused on building the data community through interviews with experts in data science, analytics, artificial initelligence, machine learning, and more. Includes tutorials on data visualization with Tableau, Power BI, R, Python, and other tools. DATAcated = dedicated to data.

2021 Runner-Up: EagerEyes by Robert Kosara

3. Most Interesting Data Podcast

2021 Winner: Chart Chat with Shaffer, Wexler, Makulec, & Cotgreave

Jeffrey Shaffer, Steve Wexler, Amanda Makulec, and Andy Cotgreave debate the good, the bad, and the “scaredy-cats” of data visualization. One of the biggest lessons these industry leaders have learned is the importance of collaboration, iteration, and friction.

2021 Runner-Up: The PolicyViz Podcast by Jon Schwabish

4. Top Data Community Initiative

2021 Winner: #DiversityInData by Autumn Battani & Eve Thomas

DiversityInData is an initiative centered around diversity, equity & awareness. Each month organizers Autumn Battani and Eve Thomsa provide datasets which they hope you’ll join them in visualizing. 

2021 Runner-Up: Women in Data (UK)

5. Data Literacy Advocate of the Year

2021 Co-Winners: Sarah Nell-Rodriguez & Allen Hillery

Sarah and Allen had a busy 2021 in the Data Literacy space. Together they launched the Be Data Lit podcast, blog and community site. Sarah also works at Tableau and Allen helped start and run the DuBois Challenge. They are continuously reminding us that access to data literacy knowledge and skills needs to be available for all.

2021 Runner-Up: Kate Strachnyi