In this article，we analyze the lineage and trends of data journalism research in China and globally. Bibliometrics analysis is used as the primary research method to answer our research questions. Data journalism in China has undergone a process of enlightenment from the early days to the present day of disenchantment and rethinking. Although “big data” and “visualization” are popular topics in data journalism，there is not much interdisciplinary citing literature. In terms of research methods，domestic research is much more discursive than empirical，with content analysis as the main method of empirical research. Foreign research is focused on both qualitative and quantitative. A common problem in both Chinese and foreign research is that there is still a lack of research based on audience and communication effects. This article points out that data journalism research should continue to explore audience and effect research and accelerate the construction of a scientific theoretical system while paying attention to applied journalism practice.