Mona Chalabi

Mona Chalabi is a data journalist, writer, and illustrator whose work has influenced how complex information is communicated to broad audiences. As data editor at The Guardian US, Chalabi is recognized for transforming dense statistics into accessible, hand-drawn visual explanations that address topics such as inequality, immigration, gender, race, and daily life. Her approach combines analytical methods with approachable visuals, helping readers understand how data shapes public discourse and policy.

Her work has earned her a Pulitzer Prize, a fellowship at the British Science Association, an Emmy nomination and recognition from the Royal Statistical Society. In recent years, her art has been exhibited at the Tate, the Brooklyn Museum, the Design Museum, and the House of Illustration. She studied international relations in Paris and Arabic in Jordan.

Chalabi’s reporting and illustrations have appeared in major outlets, including projects with The New York Times and collaborations with broadcasters such as BBC and NPR. She has co-created and co-hosted explanatory series and podcasts that use charts and graphics to clarify numbers in the news, and her animated and short-form video work has reached wide audiences on social media. Through these projects, Chalabi translates statistical evidence into clear, memorable stories for viewers and readers.

Chalabi is also the author and illustrator of books that apply her visual approach to a broader audience, including projects in the style of “The Data Detective” and collection-style works that turn everyday questions into illustrated data narratives. Her visual essays and longform pieces, which examine subjects like housing, demographics, and political participation, have received recognition from journalism and design organizations. These projects highlight her ability to combine methodological transparency with creative storytelling, resonating with audiences interested in data journalism and public policy.

As a public speaker, Chalabi appears at festivals, universities, and cultural institutions to discuss data literacy, misinformation, and the ethics of statistics. She has delivered talks on how charts can mislead, how to question data sources, and how visual storytelling can make research more inclusive. In interviews and public appearances, Chalabi addresses professional challenges, including confronting biased or incomplete datasets and communicating uncertainty in a polarized environment. Her openness on these issues has established her as a trusted voice on the responsibilities of data journalism.

Across her work in print, on screen, online, and on stage, Chalabi is a prominent figure in contemporary data journalism. Her combination of analytical rigor, visual communication, and clear explanation demonstrates that statistics can be both accurate and accessible, providing guidance for audiences navigating an increasingly data-driven world.