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Computer-Assisted Reporting: Tools for Journalists

Computer-Assisted Reporting: Tools for Journalists. Steve Doig Cronkite School of Journalism Arizona State University. My background. Majored in political science 23 years as a newspaper reporter in Florida Covered government, justice, politics, science, etc.

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Computer-Assisted Reporting: Tools for Journalists

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  1. Computer-Assisted Reporting:Tools for Journalists Steve Doig Cronkite School of Journalism Arizona State University

  2. My background • Majored in political science • 23 years as a newspaper reporter in Florida • Covered government, justice, politics, science, etc. • My first computer (Atari 800) in 1982 • Did many CAR projects and stories • I’m NOT a computer expert

  3. What is CAR? • CAR is the use of computers and social science methods to acquire and analyze information to do stories that otherwise would be difficult or impossible.

  4. But remember… • The most important word in “computer-assisted reporting” is… REPORTING

  5. Reporting about problems • Three methods: • Wait for authority to study the problem, then report their findings • Gather anecdotes for a story about the problem • Study the problem yourself, then report your findings

  6. History of CAR • Scattered examples starting with news polling in the 1950s • “Precision Journalism” written by Phil Meyer in 1972 • Handful of U.S. reporters start using personal computers in early 1980s • NICAR started in 1989 • First CAR Pulitzer in 1989 • CAR spreads outside the U.S (Jose Roberto de Toledo in Brazil!) • Today: Thousands of reporters use it around the world

  7. Crime and justice Elections Campaign finance Property values Racial segregation Environment Education Transportation Weather and disasters Agriculture Public opinion Health care Sports Business Demographics Taxes and spending A few CAR topics

  8. Some “Big CAR” examples • Hurricane Andrew – Miami Herald • Backdated stock options – WS Journal • Dangerous train crossings – NY Times • Police shootings – Washington Post • Black drivers – Boston Globe • Children’s deaths – Washington Post • Election fraud – Miami Herald • Prisoners released – O Globo

  9. Some “Daily CAR” examples • Dog licenses • Crime reports • Parking tickets • “Personal” ads • School test scores • Bicycle accidents • Oscar winners • Sports injuries

  10. Two branches of CAR • Online research: Looking for information • Data analysis: Looking for patterns

  11. Some good journalism sites

  12. www.abraji.org.br

  13. www.ibge.gov.br

  14. www.ire.org

  15. PowerReporting.com

  16. www.poynter.org

  17. www.reporter.org/desktop/

  18. Search Google for “cybertimesnavigator”

  19. www.LexisNexis.com ($$)

  20. Two branches of CAR • Online research: Looking for information • Data analysis: Looking for patterns

  21. What is “data”? • Organized information • Table form: • Rows: Individual records • Columns: Variables

  22. CAR Tools • Word processor • Spreadsheet (Excel) • Database (Access, Filemaker) • Statistics (SAS, SPSS) • Mapping (ArcMap, Google Maps) • Exotic stuff (GPS, intranets, web publishing, interactive maps, et al.)

  23. Word processor/text editor • Use Word’s search function to find text • Use a heavy-duty programmer’s text editor (like Vedit or UltraEdit) to explore big data files

  24. Spreadsheet • Smart paper • 65.000 rows and 255 columns • Use to: • Sort • Filter • Transform • Summarize

  25. Murders in Brazil

  26. Database manager (Access) • Can work with large tables (>65.000) • Use to join tables to create new information • Examples: • Criminals and teachers • Drunk drivers and school bus drivers

  27. Statistical programs • SAS and SPSS (and Excel) • Good for basic statistical tests • Mean, median, ranking, etc. • Chi-square • Linear regression

  28. Mapping • GIS: Geographical Information Systems • Good for data with location • Examples: Census, crime, traffic, environment, elections

  29. Mapping

  30. Mapping with data

  31. Free CAR software? • Docs.Google.Com – free online spreadsheet! • OpenOffice.org – “Calc” is a free open-source spreadsheet • Google Maps new free “My Maps”

  32. docs.google.com

  33. OpenOffice.org

  34. Google’s “My Maps”

  35. Other precision tools • Public opinion polling • Field experiments • Newsroom intranets • Online maps • Satellite imagery • Data mining

  36. The newsroom CAR pyramid • All reporters should know that CAR tools exist • Many reporters should be able to use a spreadsheet • Some reporters should know how to use a database program • At least one reporter should know how to do mapping, statistics

  37. Getting Data • Are government records public? • Search Google – filetype:xls and domain:.br (83.000 pages!) • See a report: Ask for it on CD or flash drive, not paper • If there is a web lookup, there is a database behind it • Type it in yourself?

  38. Dangers of CAR

  39. Data analysis dangers • Old days: Go to a press conference • Today: Do your own study • Problem: You become “the expert” • CAR = Social science on deadline • Mistakes caused by: • Carelessness: School scores • Misunderstanding: Infant mortality • Bad data: Drunk driving in Miami

  40. Warnings! CAR is not faster Bad data looks like good data Computers do what you tell them to do, not what you want them to do Ask yourself: Does this make sense? CAR can make a good reporter better, but can’t make a bad reporter good

  41. Questions??

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