Improving critical data literacy skills through an integrated curriculum in journalism education

In the digital age, journalism faces the challenge of integrating critical data literacy skills as a fundamental competency in university education. These skills enable journalists to interpret, contextualize, and use complex data in a reflective way. However, their instruction is hindered by methodological and structural barriers within traditional curricula. This article presents the results of a teaching innovation project implemented in the bachelor’s degree in journalism at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) between 2022 and 2024. The proposal consisted of an integrated curricular pathway connecting five courses through active and participatory methodologies. This approach aimed to enhance content coherence, foster critical thinking, and promote innovative problem-solving. The study analyzed the effectiveness of this pathway in fostering critical data literacy skills through assessment rubrics, student surveys, and focus groups. The results indicate improvements in content cohesion, meaningful learning, and the development and retention of crosscutting competencies. This study proposes a replicable curricular pathway model that enhances teaching quality and responds to the evolving demands of professional journalism.