Emilia Ruzicka (they/them)
I turn data into compelling narratives, beautiful visualizations, and actionable insights. My background is in data journalism and I recently earned my master's degree in media, culture, and technology with a certificate in digital humanities at University of Virginia (UVA). I'm actively seeking full-time or freelance employment, so if you or someone you know is hiring, you can check out my resume and send me a message at go2emiliaruz@gmail.com. My previous experience includes data reporting, editing, design and visualization, audio production, qualitative and quantitative research, and more.
Currently, I serve part-time as the Data Management Specialist for the Trans News Initiative, a collaborative project betweeen the Trans Journalists Association (TJA), the University of Miami School of Communication, and Polygraph that tracks and analyzes coverage of trans communities in time with shifting politics and current events. Alongside my work with TJA, I write for Nightingale and freelance whenever an interesting project arises. I recently fulfilled a lifelong goal of crossing the entire United States by train and reflected on my experinces as I went. You can check out my dispatches on my Substack, which will eventually turn to non-travel reflections.
At UVA, I conducted research concerning the role of data and artificial intelligence tools in the professional practice of journalism in the Sloane Lab, run by Dr. Mona Sloane. My work in the Sloane Lab further included creating a pitch and publication database for the Co-Opting AI book series and designing graphics for Dr. Sloane's book, Predicted: How AI Is Restructuring Social Life. I also completed projects under the mentorship of Dr. Aaron Martin concerning data governance and digital risk, which included editing a book project, Transgressive Tech: The Privatization of the Public Interest.
If you're curious about my work, explore the Highlights section below. A comprehensive list of all of my previous works can be found in my digital archive. The best way to keep up with my current work is to follow me on the social media of your choice, but I'm especially active on LinkedIn and Bluesky.
I love to share my work with others and conduct training about data analysis, visualization, and journalism best practices. Check out all my previous speaking engagements and media mentions, including conferences, awards, and professional memberships, on my media page. Please email me if you're interested in hiring me for an event.
Want to work together? Have something you want to share? Email me at go2emiliaruz@gmail.com or reach out on LinkedIn, Bluesky, or Insta.
Review: Dashboards That Deliver
Nightingale, 09/22/2025
Integrating Emerging Technology in Newsrooms Must Preserve Journalistic Agency
Center for News, Technology, and Innovation, 09/18/2025
"I do like to get in there and play with it myself": Affordances for Emerging Technology Experimentation in Post-COVID Newsroom Infrastructures
University of Virginia Master's Thesis, 04/22/2025
Dan Bouk, Democracy’s Data: The Hidden Stories in the U.S. Census and How to Read Them
International Journal of Communications, 10/2024
Chapter Eleven: Practical Tactics for Gender Inclusivity in Data Reporting
Urban Institute, Do No Harm Guide: Crafting Equitable Data Narratives, 02/2024
Reproductive health care and data privacy: What we know, what we don't, and how to protect yourself
Stacker, 05/12/2023
How to create data visualisations that serve the public: Making data visualisations accessible to everyone
DataJournalism.com, European Journalism Centre, 12/08/2022
Union activity declined over the last decade even as public support reached a modern high
Stacker, 11/07/2022
Comprehensive sex education matters. Here's what the data shows
Stacker, 09/21/2022
Postmarks, Episode 1
WTJU 91.1FM, University of Virginia, 06/15/2021
Mapping "The Phantom Tollbooth"
Nightingale, 09/02/2020
The network diagram below provides an interactive exploration of some highlights from my portfolio. Each orange node is a category of project (reporting, data visualization, etc.) and each black node is a project topic (journalism, health, etc.). Each yellow project node is connected to at least one category and topic, will display a tooltip on hover, and is a clickable link to the work. The network can be explored with filters and zoom. Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss my work further.