Journalism Next:Chapter 9: Data-driven Journalism

Cindy Royal, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Texas State University

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

croyal@txstate.edu

www.cindyroyal.com

www.onthatnote.com

tech.cindyroyal.net

twitter.com/cindyroyal

facebook.com/cindyroyal

Data everywhere

• Amount of information in our lives is increasing. Need curation and filters to help it make sense

• Social media is based on programming, data and databases. Information is stored in these places and brought to you based on your logins and preferences

• First, tools to help organize your life, then data-driven journalism projects and APIs

• Most tools are free, so barrier to try new things is very low.

Organizational Tools

• Organize your email with filters and folders• Find right personal productivity tools -

Google Docs, OpenOffice, NeoOffice• Cloud Computing - store files online;

must have Internet access• Backup data, keep copies• Develop a personal productivity

strategy• Organize your contacts

Data-driven Journalism

• Opportunities abound for using data in news coverage• Notable organizations - Texas Tribune

and NY Times• Based on computer-assisted reporting,

but for the Web• Depth, customization, searchability,

long shelf life

Data and storytelling

• Every story is a field of data• Telling stories with data - FEMA payouts, campaign

finance filings• Helping reporters do their jobs - sort through

information• Sharing data - APIs (Application Programming

Interfaces• Closed systems and absolute control over content

doesn't work in the modern newsroom• Other programmers and newsrooms can mashup

their data

Getting started

• Start with spreadsheets, move to databases• Map Mashups - stories and in breaking

news• Interactive Maps - Map Builder and

ZeeMaps• Location-aware devices• Store data online, then convert,

organize, update, enhance