Data journalism: The myths and the magic

ASNE ConventionWashington, DCJune 25, 2013

Myth: Data journalism is a (single) discipline

Data visualizationspecialist

Computer-assistedreporter

News applicationsdeveloper

The 3 dimensions of data journalism

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

agencies• Software: Excel, Access, mySQL

Jennifer LaFleurPro Publica

CAR director

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 code• Software: Ruby/Rails; Python/Django,

mySQL

Brian BoyerNPR

News apps editor

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 director

does not always equal

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 people

• The best solution: “grow your own”: train your staff, cultivate students before they graduate

• Think long term: you won’t get from 0 to 60 with a single hire

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 RESOURCES

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”

projects– Use 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 programming

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 data– Have 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

RESOURCES

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 learn

• Commit to ongoing development of your staff – tuition support, travel, newsroom training– Especially important: IRE’s CAR conference