Fighting for my life: The largest battle I ever won

August 17th, 2010

I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching recently, and coding.  Trying to remember why I decided to learn how to program.  It was always for journalism.  Never transitioning out of the profession, only transitioning within it, and helping it to transition.

I’ve been paying rapt attention to the journey of designer/journalist Chris Courtney.  He’s fighting a battle bigger than the ones we fight against agencies refusing to hand over document, journalists stuck in an old mindset, people too bored by media to become informed.  He’s fighting cancer.

We don’t know each other, Chris, but I’ve followed your work, and I’ve been meaning to introduce myself.  I can’t help but feel connected to you, though.  Reading your thoughts reminds me of my own similar journey. And having spent the day arguing with Javascript functions, and wanting to punch them in their metaphorical faces, it’s easy to forget there was a time when I had much bigger issues.  Life-threatening illnesses have a way of clarifying things. (more…)

First LAT app (or the butterfly on my windowsill)

July 11th, 2010

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 Read More...

Data Delver: Andy Boyle, St. Petersburg Times

July 11th, 2010

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 Read More...

Data Delver: Cheryl Phillips, Seattle Times

July 11th, 2010

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 Read More...

Post IRE wrap-up + shameless self-promotion

June 13th, 2010

UPDATE: This update brought to you by Vegas airport wi-fi. Added additional female programmer to my list below, thanks to a tip in the comments from the ever-present-in-my-life Derek Willis *waves*.  Do any of you know others I should add to the list? Also fixed minor typos and omitted words, and added a few links I meant to include Read More...

J-school: It’s relevant but demands you take charge

June 5th, 2010

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 Read More...

Spreading the data word…via Poynter

May 12th, 2010

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 Read More...

Note to self: Real world journo-coding lessons

May 3rd, 2010

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 Read More...

Data Delver: Paul Monies, The Oklahoman

April 11th, 2010

In journalism, we talk a lot about the concept of the "one-man band." The idea often refers to multi-platform journalism -- it means being able to deliver a story in print, video, audio or online format. You must be able to do it all, and do it all well. But in the CAR world, plenty of data teams remain a one-man band operation, but in a different sense Read More...

Columbia’s new joint MS: Good start, but no panacea

April 7th, 2010

We've been retweeting it and raving about it all day in the data community - Columbia has made a big, big step forward in data journalism education by offering a new joint masters in journalism and computer science.  We can add modules to existing curricula all we want, but this is a giant leap.  There is a subset of journalists who need to learn to code Read More...