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Matilda Davies

@matildakdavies.bsky.social
3.4K followers 608 following 38 posts

Data Journalist at The Times and The Sunday Times | Views my own | Send tips + data to matilda.davies@thetimes.co.uk | She/Her 🏳️‍🌈 github.com/MatildaDavies

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Reposted by Matilda Davies
George Nixon @georgenixon97.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
Also shout out @matildakdavies.bsky.social for changing my life by showing me the Datawrapper flag country codes (and CONCATENATE). It's changed my life and I've gone flag mad.
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Kendall has promised to make the Access to Work scheme “fit for the future” - but it seems unlikely that that will include putting more money into it As Stanforth said: "I love my job. I love working. But I need the support to be able to do so." (8/8) www.thetimes.com/uk/society/a...
thetimes.com
Disabled people forced to turn down jobs over 9-month wait for support
More than 60,000 disabled people are yet to receive assistance to enter or remain in the workforce despite Labour’s pledge to get more people into employment
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
I also spoke to the incredible Kate Stanforth, who called the renewal process "soul-destroying" and has had to make cuts in her business because her support was slashed More on her story here: x.com/KateStanfort... (7/)
x.com
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
While the largest increases in spend are for people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities, most expenditure goes on grants for deaf and blind people @rnib.bsky.social says many blind/partially sighted people are "falling out of the workforce because of the delays" (6/)
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
In February there were 62,000 applications outstanding The scheme now costs £258 million, more than double the £124 million in 2015-16 The waiting times for the scheme are now actually preventing many disabled people from entering or staying in the workforce (5/)
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Everyone I spoke to for this piece said the scheme is "incredible, when it works", but at the moment, it's not working FOIs to DWP found some people are waiting >9.5 months for a decision and many who have had support for years are suddenly getting it cut (4/)
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
The scheme - often called the “best kept secret in UK policy” - has existed since 1994 to provide assistance for disabled people to get or retain employment, such as a powered wheelchair or accessible transport to work There are now >67,000 receiving support through it (3/)
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
The number of people not working because of long-term sickness shot up during Covid Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, announced £5 billion in welfare cuts last week to 'get Britain working' - but relatively little was said about Access to Work (2/)
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
There's been lots of talk recently about getting disabled/long-term sick people back into the workforce, but very little about the 60,000 disabled people waiting for support to do just that Here's what's going on with the Access to Work scheme 🧵👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/society/a...
thetimes.com
Disabled people forced to turn down jobs over 9-month wait for support
More than 60,000 disabled people are yet to receive assistance to enter or remain in the workforce despite Labour’s pledge to get more people into employment
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Something a little different from me: Last summer, I had the joy of experiencing Argyll Cruising - a tiny cruise on a converted wooden fishing vessel If you've ever wanted to explore Scotland’s west coast, Mull and Inner Hebrides, this is how to do it ⛵️✍️ www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
thetimes.com
Eagles, cheese and G&Ts: life aboard a tiny Hebridean cruise
A trip on a converted fishing boat is a unique way to get to know the islands — just pack an extra jumper, says Matilda Davies
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Exceptional and shocking analysis here from @davidwoode.bsky.social and @gwjournalism.bsky.social - Knife crime is rising: analysing a decade of crime statistics exposes the scale of fatal stabbings and knife possession across England and Wales
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
What's going on with the UK economy, and what does it spell for Reeves' future? @gwjournalism.bsky.social and I dug into the numbers to explain the crisis in five charts www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
thetimes.com
Why Rachel Reeves is on the ropes over UK economic woes — in charts
A falling pound, rising borrowing costs and stubborn inflation show the chancellor’s financial plan flailing, but how much is her fault?
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Reposted by Matilda Davies
Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
On Miliband quote. Thinking Miliband succeeding is a bad thing suggests some strategists in Labour are stuck in 1997. Even leaving aside Labour’s new left flank challenge. Climate change is no longer the liberal lefty issue of 1997 . Voters across board think a priority
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
Over the past 6 months, my social media timelines have been increasingly filled with AI slop. It's now some of the most viewed content online. But where does AI slop come from, and how can you spot it? In today's @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/article/b627...
thetimes.com
Why ‘AI slop’ is taking over the internet — and how to spot it
The trust we had in pictures and videos is vanishing as artificial intelligence becomes better at fooling us — but there are ways to detect AI-generated content
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
Ever seen an advert for something you've just been talking about? Or felt like your phone might be listening to you? Here's what's really going on 👇 www.thetimes.com/article/97a6...
thetimes.com
Think your phone is listening to you? That’s proximity advertising
Ever get that eerie feeling your phone is eavesdropping when targeted ads pop up? Your friends may be to blame
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Reposted by Matilda Davies
Sarah Kay @k-interarma.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Facebook moderation staff in Kenya are suing Meta and a subcontractor after suffering diagnosis of severe PTSD from constant exposure to graphic content, including CSA and terrorism, during 8 to 10 hour shifts www.theguardian.com/media/2024/d...
theguardian.com
More than 140 Kenya Facebook moderators sue after diagnoses of severe PTSD
Exclusive: Diagnoses part of lawsuit being brought against parent company Meta and outsourcer Samasource Kenya
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
This 'your year in review' trend has gone too far. I do not need to be reminded of the many, many hours I've waited for Bolts in 2024
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
Read the full story here, or in today's @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/uk/society/a...
thetimes.com
Chocolate prices are rising — especially these brands
Some chocolatiers say their products should be cherished like wine and olive oil. Soon they’ll have the pricing to match
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
These higher prices often don't benefit farmers Governments set long-term fixed prices for cocoa which are supposed to protect farmers when prices are low but have, conversely, prevented them benefiting from the huge increases This has led to smuggling of cocoa to neighbouring countries (5/)
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
This affects smaller, artisan chocolatiers more than larger manufacturers like Cadbury and Nestlé Smaller brands say they have been badly affected because they often use a higher % of cocoa, have shorter-term contracts with farmers and have often paid above the commodity price already (4/)
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
The result? The price on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) rose from $4,000 a tonne in January to $12,000 in April and was still over $10,000 last week (3/)
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
The price of cocoa beans has more than doubled in the past year Ghana and the Côte d’Ivoire jointly account for two thirds of the world’s cocoa bean production Both saw extreme rainfall last December, which caused the plants to rot with black pod disease, followed by a drought in February (2/)
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
NEW: Why is chocolate getting so expensive? @louise-eccles.bsky.social and I dug into the data in today's @thetimes.com Here's what we found... 🧵👇 (1/) www.thetimes.com/uk/society/a...
thetimes.com
Chocolate prices are rising — especially these brands
Some chocolatiers say their products should be cherished like wine and olive oil. Soon they’ll have the pricing to match
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Reposted by Matilda Davies
Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
🧵 In today’s @thetimes.com our polling shows strong support for introducing some form of digital ID among the public, as the combination of ease and greater ability to crackdown on fraud, criminality and to tighten up immigration control outweighs privacy concerns.
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Massive props to all the current and former PinkNews staffers who have spoken out Everyone I worked with at PN was an absolute pro, and these allegations should be taken very seriously www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
PinkNews bosses accused of sexual misconduct
Ex-staff members say they saw one of the couple who runs the site kissing and touching a drunk colleague.
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
I worked for @wearequeeraf.com early in my career, and they've done an incredible job giving LGBTQ+ people a leg up in media and a platform to share their stories Go follow some of the brilliant alumni, who've all gone on to do great things in media, social media and content creation 👇🏳️‍🌈
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Tom Calver @tomcalver.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Follow @thetimes.com data team! 👇 @venetiamenzies.bsky.social @joeydurso.bsky.social @gwjournalism.bsky.social @matildakdavies.bsky.social @yennahsmart.bsky.social @danatherton.bsky.social @narottam.bsky.social @michael-keith.bsky.social @annadowell.bsky.social @marietamarinova.bsky.social
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Great overview of the assisted dying debate, and what could happen at this afternoon's vote
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Took a little break to touch some grass
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Reposted by Matilda Davies
George Greenwood @georgegreenwood.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Reform MP James McMurdock was jailed for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend. He had told the media he was jailed for "pushing" his former partner in 2006. Court records obtained by The Times say the sentence was given because of "the serious nature of the offence”. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
thetimes.com
Reform MP James McMurdock was jailed for repeatedly kicking girlfriend
The MP had told the media he had been jailed for ‘pushing’ former partner in 2006, when the court records say he repeatedly kicked her on a night out
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
In some wonderful company here! 👇
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Just Vervaart @datajournalist.nl · 20/11/2024
A new day, new additions to 'the list of nerdy journalists'! go.bsky.app/KKnngCM Welcome to @denisvannier.bsky.social @andrewvandam.bsky.social @matildakdavies.bsky.social @danict89.bsky.social @mikewhills.bsky.social @lajoiemedia.bsky.social @ingridcob.bsky.social @higsch.com @tlmn.bsky.social
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Shayan Sardarizadeh @shayan86.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Likewise, this account claiming to be owned by UK Reform Party leader Nigel Farage is fake. It's not an official account.
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
What a paragraph
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
I yearn for the day when less of the conversation here is about how shit X became But if you're going to read one final Twitter obituary, let it be this one
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Reposted by Matilda Davies
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Shocking news. 36% of UK children are living in poverty according to the latest Social Metrics Commission research (I am one of the Commissioners) www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
Graph showing poverty levels including child poverty reaching 36%
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Here's the full geographic breakdown A couple of cities – notably Bristol and Edinburgh – are bucking the trend, with cinemas performing better on the whole than last year
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
The biggest branches in major cities performed particularly badly over the past year, while the biggest improvements were in smaller, independent cinemas
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
It also showed Vue has leapfrogged Cineworld and Odeon for the first time Its annual ticket sales were £206 million, compared with £199 million for Cineworld and £196 million for Odeon Vue revenues actually fell by 1%, but Cineworld and Odeon were down 15% and 12% respectively
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Thousands of people flocked to see Gladiator II this weekend – and it could be a saving grace for cinemas Overall ticket sales across UK and Ireland cinemas were down 8% at £830 million in the year to September, new analysis shows Read the full story here 👇 www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
thetimes.com
Box office sales are down. See how your local cinema is faring
Search our database to learn how venues are handling the streaming age — and read how AI, dynamic pricing and nicer seats could help multiplexes survive
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Shaun Lintern @shaunlintern.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Women waiting years for gynaecology care, in @thetimes.com today www.thetimes.com/article/4d1a...
thetimes.com
‘It is excruciating’: the women waiting years for gynaecology care
Thousands are on the waiting list for non-cancer hospital treatment on the NHS, as senior doctors say they feel ‘helpless’
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
My great great aunt once spent an afternoon sat completely naked in the window of Liberty's for a bet
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
Added!
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
I've created a starter pack of brilliant data journalists worth a follow I'll add to it when I see / think of more, but feel free to suggest additions! go.bsky.app/KTYrwk3
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Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
What a chart. www.economist.com/interactive/...
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Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Disease prevalence in US states before & after vaccine introduction Graphic from Edward Tufte More graphics.wsj.com/infectious-d... 🧪
Graphic shows dramatic reduction in polio, rubella, mumps, measles, and hepatitis A cases after the introduction of vaccines for each disease.
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
But in all seriousness, I find the mainstreaming of anti-vaccine rhetoric perhaps the most frightening of all conspiracies... It has such far reaching consequences, and seems to be a gateway drug to more dangerous ideologies
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
This honestly reads like an Always Sunny plotline
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Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
Going to do a quick thread of my fellow @thetimes.com reporters who are on BlueSky and why you should follow them 👇
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Matilda Davies @matildakdavies.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
I'm here mainly for the vibes, and to avoid *the other place*, but I'm always open to tips, chats and connections. Please do say hello!
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