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data visualizations

09.07.10

Hosting #wjchat — Finding the story in the data CAR, data visualizations, django, programming, web | (2)
UPDATE: More later, but if you missed the geekery and fantastic exchange of knowledge that you get with a phenomenally sharp, inquisitive and dedicated group like the #wjchatters, you can find the transcript here. Tomorrow, Wed. Sept. 8, we'll be discussing "Finding the story in the data" at #wjchat, and I have been tapped to host. (One might ask why, they must really be running low on people....I kid, I kid.) This issue is extremely important, and one that must be addressed by the Web journalism groups. There's a difference between telling a journalistic story, but lacking ...
07.11.10

First LAT app (or the butterfly on my windowsill) CAR, data visualizations, django, programming, projects, theory, web | (0)
http://projects.latimes.com/prop8 So, there's that. First launch! My checklist: Figure out what part of journalism inspires me. CHECK (Data, programming) Find place where I can learn about it from others, but have freedom to try out my ideas and learn from knowledgeable and patient folks. CHECK (LAT) Use this opportunity to learn enough about programming to create at least one app. CHECK (See first line of post) That was a good time. I'm planning a post on best practices for creating a searchable database application like this, with examples, and technical geekery, and all that, and I'd love your thoughts in the meantime. Let me know if you ...
07.11.10

Data Delver: Andy Boyle, St. Petersburg Times CAR, data delvers, data visualizations, programming | (0)
The last Data Delver I have on tap is Andy Boyle. If you're in the online journalism sphere on Twitter, you know this name, or at least, @andymboyle. But let's say you don't. If I introduce him as a reporter, that's not the full picture. A developer? That's not it either. Web-savvy journo? Still, nope. All of the above, and then some? Now, we're getting somewhere. I'll just put it this way. Andy, you've been an inspiration. Watching your work while I was a student at Medill, and how much you enjoyed it, I knew some day I could do anything, ...
07.11.10

Data Delver: Cheryl Phillips, Seattle Times CAR, data delvers, data visualizations | (0)
Programming note: This Data Delver series was a lot more regular before I actually became a "Data Delver." This is one of two interviews that's been sitting in my draft pile. I spoke to Cheryl Phillips back in March 2010, and the below interview should be interpreted in that context. Sorry for the delay, Cheryl, but better late than never (I hope.) One of the areas in journalism most ripe for data work, as I see it, is enterprise stories. At papers with small CAR staffs, there's often a serious strain on the time of CAR reporters and editors seeking to ...
06.05.10

J-school: It’s relevant but demands you take charge data visualizations, django, theory | (3)
I love journalism shop-talk chat, really. Of course, I'd rather be DOING the journalism, but it's important to see where others are at, and it's kind of fun to feel like part of the club, and dream about the future. The #wjchat chats on Twitter emerged about the same time my data journey started, but my participation in these activities has dropped off recently. This is especially ironic this past week, as the discussion centered on the relevance of j-schools. And I've been thinking about that topic a lot. After all, two weeks from today, I officially graduate from Medill. I'm ...
05.12.10

Spreading the data word…via Poynter CAR, data visualizations | (0)
If you didn't see it on Twitter, or on poynter.org...I'm writing articles for Poynter's website on data journalism. The first is on how to use OutWit Hub, a Firefox extension to help you scrape Web sites even if you don't have programming knowledge. I just needed something to do with my ever abundant free time, obviously. Alright, since we know that's not true, the real reason is that it will help spread the data journalism message. There are a lot of skills to learn, and a lot of questions to be answered. The more of us intelligently exploring these options, the better ...
05.03.10

Note to self: Real world journo-coding lessons data visualizations, django, theory | (0)
Notice how your Google reader got a bit emptier than usual? Didn't think so. But it recently occured to me that I haven't posted in eons. Why is that? Part of it has been the chaos of moving, spending time exploring LA. The other part is that I'm finally walking the walk every day. I stepped out of the Medill bubble, valiantly tried to explain to my friends and family what I'm doing out in California. "We'll look for your articles!" "Do you write feature stories?" Me: "I tell stories through data. No? I do geeky stuff to create interactive apps ...

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