Data and dialogue: New faculty members Tobey, O'Reilly deepen GBJ course offerings

Pam Tobey: "Data visualization helps convey the core message of a story instantly." (GBJ photo by Rick Dunham)

By BAKHTAWAR TAUSEEF

Global Business Journalism reporter

Tsinghua University’s Global Business Journalism program has welcomed two internationally experienced journalists as visiting professors this semester to strengthen its commitment to training students in both data-driven storytelling and cross-cultural communication.

Pam Tobey, a visual journalist with more than 30 years at The Washington Post, is teaching a course in business news data visualization, while Cary O’Reilly, a former Bloomberg News editor and global correspondent, is leading a class on intercultural communication in business journalism. Their combined expertise reflects the evolving demands of modern journalism, where clarity, context, and cultural fluency are as necessary as reporting fundamentals.

Tobey, who also worked for nine years as Visual Director at Beijing Review, said her move into academia was sparked by years of observing students at Tsinghua and encouragement from colleagues like Dr. Hang Min and Professor Rick Dunham. Her course emphasizes practical tools such as Excel, Tableau, Flourish, and vector design software like Inkscape and Adobe Express.

“Data visualization helps convey the core message of a story instantly,” she said. “A strong chart paired with a good headline can immediately grab the reader.”

She recalled how simple, clear visual storytelling helped engage readers at The Washington Post, where even non-design reporters were trained to use tools like Datawrapper.

Tobey’s instruction is shaped by decades of newsroom experience. Among her most impactful projects was a chart visualizing of a sudden drop in the Dow Jones stock index during the 2000s that made the front page. Another featured a full-page business story uncovering pharmaceutical price fixing, supported by a series of clear, data-rich graphics.

“It had real impact,” she said.

She cautions students to avoid common mistakes in visual journalism: using a visually inappropriate type of chart or manipulating a chart's axis to exaggerate trends. She also warns about an over-reliance on artificial intelligence. While AI tools can now generate basic visuals, she notes they still lack refinement.

“AI is useful for streamlining simple tasks, but it's not yet great at customization,” she explained.

Cary O'Reilly: "At the end of the day, journalism is still about talking to people, understanding their world, and telling stories that matter.” (GBJ photo by Bakhtawar Tauseef)

Cary O’Reilly, embodying the same real-world expertise, enriches the classroom with decades of international experience, drawing on frontline journalism in Washington, Japan, Singapore, and Switzerland.

“Living and working abroad gave me a global perspective on how business leaders operate and communicate,” he said.

In Japan, his outsider status turned into an asset.

“Not speaking Japanese actually helped me bypass rigid hierarchies. I could go directly to the source,” he explained.

In Singapore and Switzerland, he observed how cultural norms shaped professional interactions and business expectations, which is an insight he now shares with students to help them develop more sensitive, globally aware reporting practices.

O’Reilly’s class features role-playing exercises, guest lectures, and research projects on Chinese companies operating abroad and foreign companies working in China.

“Understanding cultural context is key,” he said. “Journalists today need to do more homework if they want to ask better questions and produce better stories.”

O'Reilly also is introducing two new offerings into GBJ's Hot Topics course: The Business of Healthcare and ESG (environmental, social responsibility, and governance issues). At Bloomberg, he led healthcare coverage and oversaw deep investigations into pharmaceutical development and regulatory responses. Experiences he now uses to help students understand the intersection of business, ethics, and public health.

Regarding ESG, he contrasts the investor-driven approach in the West with China’s more regulator-led model.

“Both are fascinating, and comparing them offers students a much deeper view of how global companies respond to emerging priorities,” he said.

Both professors stress that journalism is evolving, and future reporters must be equipped with tools and mindsets that go beyond traditional reporting. Tobey encourages students to learn not only how to build graphics, but also how to refine and package them with strong writing. O’Reilly, meanwhile, emphasizes that human interaction remains central even in the digital age.

“Digital platforms have changed everything,” he said. “But at the end of the day, journalism is still about talking to people, understanding their world, and telling stories that matter.”