This document provides an overview of computer-assisted reporting (CAR), which uses data from databases, spreadsheets, and other sources to uncover stories. CAR can confirm obvious facts, reveal unexpected findings, and report information without needing to attribute to sources. Some potential data sources discussed include inspection reports, complaints, licenses and registrations. The document outlines challenges in obtaining data through freedom of information requests and provides tips for negotiating access. It also discusses software options, potential stories that could be uncovered, and resources for learning more about CAR techniques.

1. Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR)

2. Computer-Assisted Reporting Better title: Data-Assisted Reporting. Or… reporting using data instead of, or along with, documents.

3. Useful data • Databases • Spreadsheets • Email • Maps

7. Understand data tables  Fields (or columns) contain types of data.  Records (or rows) contain the information you want .

8. Why use data? • No more “according to…” State as fact, don’t attribute. • Uncovers stories even the subjects don’t know. • Confirms the obvious; reveals the unexpected.

34. Other CAR ideas • Overpass inspection records. • Mayoralty campaign donors. • Ambulance response times. • Health/safety reports in city-run apartment buildings. • Complaints against taxi drivers.

35. More CAR ideas • Pet licenses by postal code. • Single men/women by census tract. • Day most marriage licenses. • Most common street name.

36. Data sources • Inspection reports • Complaints • Incidents reports • Discipline records • Registrations and licenses Check reporting requirements.

38. The CAR Inverse Pyramid of Aggravation  Obtaining data (hard) Formatting data Analyzing data Reporting Writing (easy)

39. Where to get data • Ask for it. • Download from the Web. • Scrape from the Web. • Build it yourself from documents. • FOI or ATIP.

40. How to FOI/ATIP?

41. FOI/ATIP hurdles • Privacy. • Price. • General stupidity.

42. FOI/ATIP strategies • Ask for everything except names (and sometimes addresses) • Negotiate. • Appeal.

43. Negotiating for data • Request a sample of the data. • Arrange a meeting with the ATIP/FOI person or the data expert. • Eliminate fields that need to be severed. • Modify your request.

44. Finding the story • Think vertically. Look at columns. • Cross-tab columns. • Chart over time. • Look for patterns. • Dig down from data..

46. Spreadsheets • “ Smart paper,” great for adding up totals, calculating percentages and other data summary. • Limited to 65,000 records.

48. Database managers • Quickly organizes large numbers of records. • No 65,000-record limit. • Can summarize data, too.

50. Mapping or GIS • Puts data on a map. • Analyzes data based on location and distance.

53. Software for Mac • Spreadsheet: Excel ($), OpenOffice (open source) • Database manager: Filemaker($), MySQL (open source) • Mapping : QGIS (open source), Google Maps mash-ups.

54. Software for PC • Spreadsheet: Excel ($), OpenOffice (open source) • Database manager: Access($), MySQL (open source) • Mapping : ArcView ($, Citizen owns a copy), MapInfo ($), Google Maps mash-ups.

55. Problems with CAR • Long lead times. • Time consuming. • Requires software and hardware. • Extra work not seen by readers (or editors)

56. Scale • A little goes a long way • Think story, not series • Keep and reuse your data

57. Why learn CAR? • Few doing it in Canada • Easy online components • Useful in almost any beat • Works in print, broadcast, web

58. Resources • nicar.org • caj.ca • ire.org • thescoop.org

59. Ask for help • (613) 235-6685 • [email_address] • http://www.sushiboy.org/car.pdf • http://www.sushiboy.org/car.ppt -30-