what is 

Data Journalism?

Kendall Taggart

kendall.taggart@buzzfeed.com

(h/t Jennifer LaFleur of The Center for Investigative Reporting)


#Nicar14 job board

Why data journalism?

  • Because you can't tell important stories without these skills

EXAMPLE: ESPN examines stadium food




Finding: More than half of the concession stands or restaurants had been cited for at least one "critical" or "major" health violation at some venues.

WHy data journalism?

  • Because you can't tell important stories without these skills
  • Pattern recognition: it takes you beyond an anecdote

    • EXAMPLE: Associated press follows stimulus money


    Combining datasets:  Bridge inspections    +    stimulus funding


    FINDING:          Some of the nation's worst bridges did not get                                                      stimulus funding.

    EXAMPLE: PRIME HEALTHCARE

    There is news in the outliers.


    WHY Data Journalism?

  • Because you can't tell important stories without these skills
  • Pattern recognition: it takes you beyond an anecdote
  • Test assumptions

    • EXAMPLE: NPR 


    EXAMPLE: California Watch

    California has the toughest building regulations.

    Schools must be safe.


    EXAMPLE: THE Center for investigative Reporting

    Press releases disproportionately highlight Mexican citizens 


    4 of 5 Border Patrol drug busts involve US citizens

    WHY Data Journalism?

  • Because you can't tell important stories without these skills
  • Pattern recognition: it takes you beyond an anecdote
  • Test assumptions
  • Enable people to make stories relevant to their own situation

    • eXAMPLE: California watch

    Schools in our area with faulty construction

    eXAMPLE: Propublica



    Developing A data Frame of mind

    If something is:
    • inspected
    • licensed
    • purchased
    • enforced

    ...there is probably a database

    DEVELOPING DATA FRAME OF MIND


    If there is:
    • a form
    • a report

    ...there is probably a database

    DEVELOPing a data frame of mind

    Sun Sentinel looks at speeding cops
    Is there a sensor? 

    Where to find data?

    Where do you find data?

  • Online: easy to download or requires scraping
  • Sometimes you have to create your own data
  • Usually, it requires a request to a government agency

    • Requesting data

    Every Friday! #FOIAFriday

    Sample state and federal FOIAs are available at:

     

    NFOIC also has a list of FOIA experts in each state available on its website.

    requesting data

    Dealing with pushback

    Common excuses:

    • It’ll be really expensive.
    • It’s too complicated for you to understand.
    • It’s too big a dataset.
    • It contains private information.
    • Privatization – a third party company controls the database.


    Requesting data

    Strategies:
    • Know the law
    • Speak nerd
    • Request an itemized breakdown of costs
    • Write about it:
     

    Tools for data analysis:

    • Spreadsheets (Excel)
    • Databases (Access, SQlite, MySQL)
    • Statistics (Excel, R, SPSS, Pandas)
    • Mapping (Fusion Tables, QGIS, ArcGIS)
    • Programming (Python, Ruby)

    Questions?


    Kendall:
    email: kendall.taggart@buzzfeed.com
    phone: 646.589.8582
    @KendallTTaggart
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