This was talks first given at the Online News Association conference in 2013. An adapted version was given a second time for the Asian American Journalists Association in 2014.
3. 3 things that are true
Every story can be a data story.
Every journalist can be a data journalist.
Every newsroom can produce kick-ass data
journalism projects.
4. With every data project:
Ask what the goal is
● Drive traffic
● Social sharing/virality
● Public edification
● Social justice
● New editorial product
● Win awards
5. What challenge is your newsroom
facing?
● We don’t know where to get data/what to do
with the data we do have
● We don’t have the resources to do intensive
data analysis
● We don’t have the in-house tools/skills/talent
for a big fancy presentation
6. Get your staff in a
“data state of mind”
h/t to MaryJo Webster for this term
13. Ask: what’s the narrative? How do
we want the user to explore the
data? How are we communicating
that to them?
14. Common data project holdups
* Data is dirty
* Story isn’t focused
* Package has too many moving pieces
* Breaking news or daily news monopolizes
time of key players
* Lack of coordination
* Data is still dirty
16. Sometimes data means math
* Percent change
* Adjust for inflation
* Medians vs average
* Rates and ratios
Steve Doig’s tipsheet: http://www.ibiblio.org/slanews/conferences/sla2005/programs/mathcrib.htm