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web

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 ...
02.22.10

David Carr at Medill theory, web | (0)
Today, the New York Times' David Carr came to speak at Medill. I've admired his work for some time, and he was just three floors above me, so I hopped on upstairs. While not directly data-related, he did talk about many topics relevant to the current journalistic climate. If that's not a good enough reason, it's my blog, so we're going on a diversion. Here are some choice quotes that may interest you: On journalism's doom and gloom naysayers: "People always say the sky is falling, and nothing happens." "The golden age of journalism wasn't actually all that golden." "I ...
02.12.10

Exploring Drupal — open source tool of the day programming, web | (0)
As part of an ongoing quest to learn as much about programming and technical tools as I strive to learn about the beats I cover, I jumped at the opportunity to attend a Drupal training this evening. I didn't know this before today, but there is a robust Drupal user group here in Chicago, appropriately named the Chicago Drupal Meet Up Group. In real life, they run trainings once a month where they also answer general questions. Other meetings focus on advance topics, and sometimes it's just an open time to get together and hack some stuff out -- hey, ...
01.18.10

Collaborating with computers to parse “big data” CAR, sql, theory, web | (0)
Picture it: You've been given a new story assignment, and you have to leave for the interview in five minutes. You've got to have enough background to ask the right questions, but there's no time to do research. Somehow pulling that all-nighter on an English term paper in college seems like a cakewalk. Luckily, you're a seasoned journalist (where I hope to be in 10 years), and you're used to figuring it out fast. Enter the new reporter. He can come up with millions of questions in a millisecond, and assimilate information ten times faster than that. He ...
01.11.10

Why technology matters: It’s about reporting CAR, programming, theory, web | (0)
"Figure out what you want to do, and get really good at it." That's been the overarching advice I've heard in the past few weeks, as I seek to understand where I might fit in the "new media" world. It all sounds fine, although the more I meet interesting people who've been looking at data analysis and web presentation for a long time, the more it becomes apparent that getting "really good at it" is a lifelong endeavor. But what curious journalist wouldn't find that a plus? My struggle has been figuring out the first clause of that sentence, what ...
11.22.09

Printies and webbies — we’re all journalists! convergence, web | (0)
Oh, why can't we just get along? There's been a lot of talk recently about the cuts at the Washington Post of workers in the separate print and online departments. There's been an outpouring of comments on the nature of the news business due to this issue. Some say the web is all about presentation, and without print journalists, there won't be anything to post. The web workers say that content just won't be seen if it isnt' presented properly. Stories of the lack of understanding between the two, such as this of former WaPo print-turned-online staffer (and my current ...

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