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...
CAR brings added benefit to stories throughout the paper, and it's essential in urban areas that have many facets to be explored through data. But before you can bring the CAR to a city like Phoenix, you've got to be confident in your abilities. That's why Matt Wynn, now Senior Data Reporter at the Arizona Republic, said he's still thankful for the opportunities he had working with data in Springfield, Mo Read More...
The nature of CAR is shifting each day, as data analyzers and Web developers alike prepare to converge on Phoenix later this week. But for those who've been in this for the long haul, the essence of the field remains what it always has been. That's the message ProPublica's Director of Computer-Assisted Reporting, Jennifer LaFleur, imparted to me during our interview Read More...
My next Data Delver: By day, he's an investigative reporter. By night, he's Superman! (Okay, he actually builds database applications with co-conspirator Matt Waite. But that's almost the same, right?) The CAR world, as I see it, has two different paths you can go down: continue to use data for reporting stories, or apply those skills to web development and presenting data Read More...
One of the virtues of continuing to be a graduate student while pursuing my CAR journey has been the freedom to look at problems academically. One issue I've been wrestling with is where we need to use more data. I've come to the conclusion that it needs to be used more often in reporting. That can be simple additions of a sentence to some breaking news stories, or using at as the basis for a long-term investigation Read More...
While talking to data reporters from around the country, it’s become apparent to me that the best work is done when the staff is supportive. Some newspapers are doing great work, and some are struggling. Which led me to wonder how the investigative organizations are doing, new and encouraging experimentation to draw eyes and inform readers Read More...
I think in the modern era, CAR merits consideration across all beats. Perhaps that's part of why I didn't discover it for so long, it never occurred to me to search for a specialty that looked at data, because I just assumed that was the way to do journalism. But if I were pressed to think of beats that are most naturally paired with CAR, I'd name politics first, and business second Read More...
What is it we love about computer-assisted reporting? Why is the NICAR-L list full of people eager and willing to diagnose problem queries and discuss the merits of mapping software? What draws people to it? The first time I saw a Python script perform batch geocoding, as numbers spun out of a Terminal console quicker than I could read them, my eyes glazed over with wonder, and I think my mouth dropped open a little Read More...
There's a fine line between loving your work, and falling into a deep obsession. I don't pretend to understand the distinction, what some call an obsession, I call it loving learning and seeing a project through. I think it's very easy to become sucked in to something, when it's something that matters Read More...
I believe all beats would benefit from considering data in their reporting, but some beats demand data analysis on a regular basis. The nature of CAR is changing -- many industry folk have told me that the term "CAR" now encompasses reporters, data analysts and web developers. It's certainly a wide field Read More...
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