Data journalismtips
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The document provides tips for bringing data-driven journalism into the classroom. It recommends starting small with one dataset over the semester, covering the history of computer-assisted reporting to help students appreciate how data-driven reporting extends past traditions, and using resources like the Data Journalism Handbook and IRE/NICAR Data Library to explore story topics. It also suggests teaching basic and advanced Excel skills as well as prioritizing content over form in data visualizations. A list of data analysis tools is included.
Data journalismtips
- 1. Bringing Data-Driven Journalism into the Classroom By Amy Schmitz Weiss, Ph.D. Asst. Professor of Journalism San Diego State University Start Small. Have the students tackle one dataset/theme over the semester. Cover the History of CAR. Help the students to understand and appreciate the role of CAR and how data-driven reporting extends the traditions of CAR from the past. Use the Data Journalism Handbook. Great resource and guide to help students see how data and journalism can be combined for effective storytelling. (http://datajournalismhandbook.org/) Teach the basics of MS Excel and Advanced Excel Skills. Provide exercises to students on the basics of MS Excel, formulas and then move onto more advanced calculations. Teach Content over Form. Check out Alberto Cairos latest book on The Functional Art (http://www.thefunctionalart.com/) and Edward Tuftes books (http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/) they communicate the importance of making data visualizations with the content leading the decision-making process as to its form. IRE/NICAR Data Library provides a great starting point for exploring data-driven journalism story topics for journalism students.(http://www.ire.org/nicar/database-library/) Data Tools: Google FusionTables: http://www.google.com/drive/start/apps.html#fusiontables Many Eyes: http://www-958.ibm.com/software/analytics/manyeyes/ Tableau Public: http://www.tableausoftware.com/products/public CartoDB: http://cartodb.com/ Info.gram: http://infogr.am/ Easel.ly: http://www.easel.ly/