At a crossroads

The future of our field and this newsletter. Focused on what matters.

AI is taking over the world. The job market is crumbling. Political and religious tensions are rising and climate change is endangering lives.

Need I go on? These are the topics dominating the news. All of them are slightly (or very) overwhelming. The future might feel the most uncertain it has ever felt in your lifetime, especially if you’re a junior person just entering the job market.

But I do think there is reason to be excited; we just need to shift our focus. So what still matters and how does that impact the future of this publication?

Three trends to embrace in 2026.

In this uncertain world where robots are presumably taking over, there are three shifts to bet on—some we cannot run from, and others that matter more than ever.

🤖 Automation.

Like it or not, AI is here to stay. We can debate how it devalues the creative industry or increases environmental costs, but we cannot wish it away. Ignoring it risks obsolescence; clients and employers may view manual-only workflows as outdated, which could harm your future career prospects. Our best bet is to use it smartly.

In our line of work—creating narratives with data—AI is a capable assistant that saves time. It can be great for tasks that drain time without adding high value, such as:

• Drafting background context and sourcing data

• Cleaning or formatting datasets

• Copywriting and proofreading

• Designing quick prototypes

In all these scenarios, you remain the lead. Check its work, review the output, and never use it as the primary writer or designer.

💙 Impact.

In an uncertain job market, there is a yearning for more meaning. Many professionals are doubling down on projects that truly matter. On a smaller scale, design studios are focusing on non-profit work despite funding cuts. On a macro scale, the European Union just approved the revised Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)—a framework that formally acknowledges impact investing in EU legislation.

This might sound like dry policy, but for European citizens, it translates into stronger support for the green, digital, and social economies. It is a structural example of impact moving to the centre of policy exactly when it feels like the first thing we might abandon.

At Parabole Studio, we are following suit: doubling down on projects that create tangible impact for the economy and society.

📣 Storytelling.

Ever been told that “data storyteller” isn’t a real job? I certainly have. Turns out, it’s now all the hype.

According to a recent WSJ article, the percentage of LinkedIn job postings in the U.S. that include the term storyteller doubled in the past year—that is about 50,000 listings in marketing and 20,000 in media and communications.

This sends a signal that data storytelling also matters more than ever. Projects with a human touch that help digest data in approachable ways will help crucial topics standout in the AI content craze. An artificial intelligence can generate a dashboard to track KPIs in minutes, but ask it to write a human-focused data narrative? You’ll likely come out disappointed.

So where do we go from here?

A new chapter for The Plot—more focused, deeper content.

Based on these reflections, The Plot is changing its format and frequency.

Starting January 2026, it will become a monthly publication. We’ll focus on slightly longer (but not too long, I promise) content, alternating between:

1. Analytical deep dives: Exploring specific data storytelling techniques and skills needed in this new landscape.

2. Case studies: Breakdowns of projects from our studio and examples of impactful work from the wider community.

If you’re looking for more frequent inspiration to fill the gap, here are my top recommendations for newsletters that offer a quick dose of examples:

• Quantum of Sollazzo

• The Visualising Data Newsletter

• Datawrapper’s Weekly Dispatch

• Off the Charts

• Buena Vista Data Club (in French)

Thanks for reading! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, if you celebrate. I’ll see you back here in about a month. ✨

—Evelina