RESEARCH PAPERS

Digital Narrative and Data Narrative: Origin, Differences, and Integration

  • Zhang Yunzhong ,
  • Feng Xiao
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  • School of Cultural Heritage and Information Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444
Zhang Yunzhong, Doctoral Supervisor, Professor, PhD, E-mail: zhang-yun-zhong@126.com; Feng Xiao, Doctoral Candidate.

Received date: 2025-04-30

  Revised date: 2025-06-23

  Online published: 2026-07-13

Supported by

This work is supported by “Shuguang Program” project titled “Research on Digital Narrative of cultural heritage driven by smart data” funded by the Shanghai Education Development Foundation and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (Grant No. 24SG039).

Abstract

[Purpose/Significance] Conceptual definition forms the foundation for theoretical advancement and practical exploration. Clarifying the developmental origins and conceptual boundaries of digital narrative and data narrative will contribute to standardising research on the narrative studies conceptual framework in the digital age, providing support for fostering social consensus and guiding the practice of narrative theory. [Method/Process] Based on classical narratological theory, we propose a narrative framework of “Story-Expression-Identification” to explore the core distinctions between digital narratives and data narratives in relation to narrative content, narrative expression, and narrative identification effects. Concurrently, we elucidates the symbiotic relationship between the digital and data narratives in the realms of scenario integration, collaborative expression, and narrative efficacy. [Result/Conclusion] Digital narrative and data narrative are different. Digital narrative builds emotional communities through the construction of cross-media plots and interactive experiences, focusing on the formation of social identity in immersive scenarios and the guidance of behavioral concepts. Data narrative, relying on visualization analysis to highlight data characteristics, provides factual insights and decision-making support to specific audiences. Meanwhile, under the influence of technological development, they gradually showing a trend of convergent narration, and may evolve into new scenarios of intelligent narrative, realizing the value of narrative elements or undertaking certain social functions.

Cite this article

Zhang Yunzhong , Feng Xiao . Digital Narrative and Data Narrative: Origin, Differences, and Integration[J]. Library and Information Service, 2026 , 70(14) : 103 -118 . DOI: 10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2026.14.008

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