ASNE Convention Washington DC June 25 2013 Myth Data journalism is a single discipline Data visualization specialist Computerassisted reporter News applications developer The 3 dimensions of data journalism ID: 492800
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Slide1
Data journalism: The myths and the magic
ASNE Convention
Washington, DC
June 25, 2013Slide2
Myth: Data journalism is a (single) disciplineSlide3
Data visualization
specialist
Computer-assisted
reporter
News applications
developer
The 3 dimensions of data journalismSlide4
Computer-assisted reporter
Former home: newsroom city desk
Likely core skills:
“data state of mind” for reporting
can “interview” data – find stories in data
can negotiate for data with government agenciesSoftware: Excel, Access, mySQL
Jennifer LaFleurPro PublicaCAR directorSlide5
News applications developer
Former home: IT department or non-journalism business
Likely core skills:
“back end” (server) programming
database configuration and administration
understands what ideas are easy and hard to execute in codeSoftware: Ruby/Rails; Python/Django, mySQL
Brian BoyerNPRNews apps editorSlide6
Data visualization specialist
Former home: newsroom graphics department
Likely core skills:
can make data interesting and accessible even in static print form
understands good visual design principles
Software: Mapping (ArcGIS, Google Maps, Leaflet), Javascript visualization libraries (e.g., D3)
Kat DownsWashington Postgraphics directorSlide7Slide8Slide9Slide10Slide11Slide12Slide13
d
oes not always equalSlide14Slide15Slide16Slide17Slide18Slide19Slide20Slide21Slide22Slide23Slide24Slide25Slide26Slide27Slide28Slide29Slide30Slide31Slide32Slide33Slide34Slide35Slide36Slide37Slide38Slide39Slide40
Filling these roles in your newsroom
Almost no one has all these skills
Unless you are a major news brand, you may not be able to hire people with a long, proven track record in any of these areas
No matter whom you hire, you (and they) should expect that they will need to keep learning
Without
a data-journalism culture in your newsroom, you won’t be able to keep good peopleThe best solution: “grow your own”: train your staff, cultivate students before they graduateThink long term: you won’t get from 0 to 60 with a single hireSlide41
Computer-assisted reporter
Journalism schools – especially those with computer-assisted reporting courses
Your own reporters who:
Already use spreadsheets in reporting
Are comfortable with math and data
Use numbers effectively in their stories
IRE/NICAR
Data “boot camps”
Annual conferences
Newsroom training
NICAR-L
SPJ
&
Poynter
training programs
PowerReporting.com (Bill
Dedman
) training
WHERE TO LOOK
RESOURCESSlide42
News applications developer
Computer science schools – especially those with practical (not theoretical) focus
Knight Scholarships at Medill – seeking industry partners
Your own developers who:
Are interested in journalism
Participate in “OpenGov” projectsUse contemporary tools (Ruby, Python, PHP, JavaScript)
WHERE TO LOOK
RESOURCES
Courses in Web programming:
Codeacademy.com
Forjournalism.com
Lynda.com
Books on programming in Ruby, Python,
Javascript
IRE/NICAR “boot camps”
Mapping
Web programmingSlide43
Data visualization specialist
Journalism schools – especially with programs in news graphics
Other schools (engineering, design, etc.) with mapping or data visualization courses
Your graphic artists who:
Like working on data-intensive graphics
Are comfortable with math and dataHave some experience with GIS systems and/or Javascript
WHERE TO LOOK
Visualisingdata.com (Andy Kirk) courses
Alberto Cairo’s book
The Functional Art
MIT Open Courseware: “How
to Process, Analyze and Visualize
Data”
Courses in JavaScript & mapping:
Codeacademy.com
Forjournalism.com
RESOURCESSlide44
Developing a data journalism culture
Make sure at least one *editor* develops literacy in these areas
Don’t have preconceived notions about what the right presentation approach
is
Develop data-related ideas as a team – with all three “dimensions” represented
Have regular events where people interested in this topic can come together and learnCommit to ongoing development of your staff – tuition support, travel, newsroom trainingEspecially important: IRE’s CAR conference