While infographics are a great way to help readers understand complex topics, journalists should avoid the temptation to make information appear to be simpler than it is.

"Stories are always more complicated than they seem at first," said data visualization expert Alberto Cairo. "Don't try to oversimplify data or stories."

Cairo, a University of Miami professor, shared his tips for visualizing data in a more effective and focused way at the recent Chicas Poderosas conference in Miami. He shared four guiding principles to remember when preparing a visualization or infographic.

You can read the post and watch video of Cairo’s full presentation on IJNet.

Chicas Poderosas empowers women to learn about, work with and lead newsroom technology throughout Latin America. The Miami conference was the first U.S. event for Chicas, which was founded by interactive designer Mariana Santos as part of her ICFJ Knight International Journalism Fellowship. Image of Alberto Cairo courtesy of Chicas Poderosas.

The International Journalists' Network, IJNet, keeps professional and citizen journalists up to date on the latest media innovations, online journalism resources, training opportunities and expert advice. ICFJ produces IJNet in seven languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. IJNet is supported by donors including the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.