This presentation outlines five ways to find data on your reporting beat that can be developed into unique stories. It also outlines several data-driven story ideas on three beats: cops and courts, health, and government. And it includes exercises on how to sort in Excel and search for stories in government databases. It was created by Manuel Torres, enterprise editor for The Times-Picayune | Nola.com, for APME's NewsTrain in Monroe, La., on Oct. 15-16, 2015. It is accompanied by two handouts: "Data-Driven Enterprise off Your Beat" and "Help Getting Public Records." NewsTrain is a training initiative of Associated Press Media Editors: http://bit.ly/NewsTrain

1. Data-driven
enterprise on
any beat
Manuel Torres
Monroe, LA,
NewsTrain
Oct. 15-16, 2015

2. Why use data?
Can’t let these guys have all the fun.

3. You’ll find good stories.

5. Stories that make a difference.

7. Stories that win prizes.

9. Read this story online.

11. Unique content your
competitors won’t have.

12. Explore this interactive feature.

13. See the list online.
Search the database.
Excellent Web traffic.

14. Search contributions.
Search expenses.

15. You don’t have
to like math!
I hated it,
but I love
stories.
Data tell
stories.

16. What have YOU
done with data?
By James Montgomery Flagg [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

17. Where are we headed today?
Photo by Flickr user Barn Images
• 5 ways to find data
on your own beat
• Data ideas in 3
different beats (ideas
for other beats in the
handout)
• Exercises so you
can apply this back
in your newsroom

18. 1. Learn how the bureaucracy works.
• Ask for retention
schedules.
• Get blank forms.
• Befriend data/IT
people.
• Ask officials what
they keep.
Photo by Flickr user
HOW TO FIND DATA

19. 2. Download data from websites.
• Governments
• Universities
• Libraries
• Think tanks
HOW TO FIND DATA

20. 3. FOIA the data.
• Get familiar with state and
federal laws. Find experts in your
newsroom, nearby colleges or
your attorneys.
• If you don’t have at least a dozen
pending requests, you’re not
using the law enough.
HOW TO FIND DATA

21. 4. Collect your own data.
• Crowdsource it:
- AL.com’s prison project. Click here.
- AL.com’s Obamacare. Click here.
- NOLA.com’s Yat Map
• Collect samples as you report:
NYT story on nail salons. Click here.
• This is the hardest way to get data. Be
patient.
HOW TO FIND DATA

22. http://www.nola.com/neighborhoods/maps/yatmap/index.html
HOW TO FIND DATA

23. 5. Learn to use Google
Advanced Search
HOW TO FIND DATA

24. https://www.google.com/advanced_search

27. Most times, you get a LOT of data.

28. “We’re gonna need a bigger screen.”

29. Clean it: Hide or delete fields you don’t need.
WARNING: Preserve originals! Use copies.

30. Data mining cops and courts.
• Murders, violent crime: Where, when, how.
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

33. Data mining cops and courts.
• Murders, violent crime: Where, when, how.
• Jail-booking data: Drunk drivers, immigrants,
revenue-producing arrests.
• Judicial expenses: Travel, extra benefits.
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

34. WVUE found a judge’s outrageous
travel ...
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

35. … so we dug
deeper: $75,000 in
travel in 18 months.
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

36. Data mining cops and courts.
• Murders, violent crime: Where, when, how.
• Jail-booking data: Drunk drivers, immigrants,
revenue-producing arrests.
• Judicial expenses: Travel, extra benefits.
• Cop private details: Supervisors beholden to
low-ranking cops who controlled details.
• Coroner: Death trends (heroin overdoses).
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

37. Reporter Michelle
Hunter’s stories on
Jefferson Parish’s heroin-
overdose epidemic.
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

38. Data mining in health care.
• Medicare: Doctor payments, drug costs,
common treatments, hospital patient
ratings, more… lots more. (ProPublica’s
data set. Click here.)
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

39. Stories from Medicare data.
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

40. Data mining in health care.
• Medicare: Doctor payments, drug costs,
common treatments, hospital patient
ratings, more… lots more. (ProPublica’s
data set. Click here.)
• Nursing home and hospital violations:
dirty linens
• Vaccinations
• Medical costs: rape examinations
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

41. Rebecca Catalanello’s “Billing for
Rape” series ignited changes in
the state and in hospitals.
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

42. Data mining government.
• Campaign records: Pay to play (who
gives and what they get), how pols
spend it.
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

43. Exposing pay to play.
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

44. Data mining government.
• Campaign records: Pay to play (who
gives and what they get), how pols
spend it.
• Traffic-camera tickets
• Code violations
• Property-tax assessments
• Take-home cars
DATA MINING ON 3 BEATS

46. Where do I begin?
• Learn Excel: Bug a friend, or Google it!
(More tips in the handout)
• Start small. Aim for guaranteed success
• Localize national projects
• Master one skill at a time: mapping,
graphics, more complex database
programs

47. “I use Stata for anything
hardcore and Excel for the
rest.”
Nate Silver
Reddit AMA, 1/18/2013

48. Exercises
1.Using Excel to sort and sum data.
2.Using online databases: Travel
records, campaign contributions

49. Exercise 1: To sort data in Excel.
1. Highlight data, then open sorting function.
2. Choose “Custom Sort…” to open this:

50. 3. Fill in criteria by using “Column,” “Sort
On,” and “Order.” Press “Ok” if you’re
sorting using only one column.

51. 4. If sorting by multiple columns, use “+”
to add as many as you need. Sorting
priority applied in descending order.

52. Exercise 2: Online databases.
• Judges’ travel in MS:
transparency.mississippi.gov
Click here
• Campaign contributions in LA:
ethics.la.gov Click here

53. 1. Go to transparency.mississippi.gov,
select “Travel” and query by “agency.”
2. Then pick “2015” and “Export to Excel”

54. 3. Open the Excel download and sort data by
total spent (Column G), in descending order.
What do you see? Is there an “aha” moment?

55. 4. Google the names of top officials in
agency you want to research.
5. Find their individual travel expenses
searching by “vendor name.”
How much did the Supreme Court’s
Chief Justice spent on travel in 2015?

56. What’s the first thing you’ll do?
Questions about how to do that?
PhotobyFlickruserMike
Linksvayer

57. Where do I find
time for data?

58. Final questions? Comments?
Manuel Torres
mtorres@nola.com
504-352-2543
@1manueltorres By Gareth Simpson