More maps, advanced auto refine, automated data

Tutorials

• Some advanced data work in Open Refine
• Another way to make a Choropleth map
• Gathering data by using IFTTT

Assignments for Nov. 4

Send me a link of an interesting map from a news organization.

• Some possible sources: New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, Washington Post, Boston Globe
• Tell me why you think it's interesting
• What kind of map is it?
• Choropleth? Dots? Something else experimental?
• What data did they use?

We'll talk about them in class on Wednesday so I need this by Tuesday night.

Pitch for final story Nov. 4

What pitching a data story should entail (for this class and all future stories)

• FOCUS.
  • Write the lede of the story you would write if your project yields what you expect to find.
  • What is the point of this project?
  • If applicable, who or what is the target of this project?
  • What new finding might this produce?
  • Will it have an impact on readers?
  • What might change as a result?
• SUMMARY.
  • Roughly, outline the lede story you expect to find.
  • Briefly, outline the package or series you anticipate this project might produce.
• DATA.
  • List the documents or databases that will be used for the project.
  • What do you expect the data to reveal?
  • What legal or technical barriers stand between you and the data? (Note: Strong preference will be given to proposals for which key basic data is already in hand.)
• SOURCES.
  • List the sources you expect to use in producing this story.
  • Include people you think might provide background and perspective, people who have direct and/or expert knowledge of the subject, and people who are mostaffected by the issue at hand.
• TIME & MONEY.
  • How much do you already know about this story?
  • How long will it take to report this story?
  • How long will it take to write this story?
  • Are there any unusual costs associated with this story?
• VISUALIZATIONS.
  • What possibilities are there for charts, maps, tables, or other interactives?
  • Will this stand alone or be embedded within the flow of the story?
  • What can you do on your own or what do you think you'll need to learn or get help with?
• IMPACT.
  • Why do this story?
  • Why do this story now?
  • How is this story different from stories like it done in the past?
  • What will this story accomplish?
• VICTIMS.
  • Who is harmed by what's going on?
  • How and why are they harmed?
• WINNERS.
  • Who is profiting or benefiting from what's going on.
  • Who and why?
• READERS.
  • How will this story affect our readers?
  • Will they read it?