This straightforward and effective how-to guide provides the basics for any journalist or student beginning to use data for news stories. It has step-by-step instructions on how to do basic data analysis in journalism while addressing why these digital tools should be an integral part of reporting in the 21st century. The book pays particular attention to the need for accuracy in computer-assisted reporting and to both the potential and pitfalls in utilizing large datasets in journalism.
An ideal core text for courses on data-driven journalism or computer-assisted reporting, Houston pushes back on current trends by helping current and future journalists become more accountable for the accuracy and relevance of the data they acquire and share.
Online instructor's materials are available to adopting professors, and additional exercises are available free online to students at the below address:
http://ire.org/carbook/ username: carbook password: carbook4
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1. Data Journalism: What Computer-Assisted Reporting Is and Why Journalists Use ItHistory of Computer-Assisted ReportingThe Basic ToolsTrial and Error and RepetitionWhere You Are GoingPractical AdviceCAR WarsChapter ChecklistYour Turn to Practice
Part I. Learning Computer-Assisted Reporting Skills
2. Online Resources: Researching and Finding Data on the InternetFinding DataDigital Information and Data on the InternetUsing Online ResourcesWhat Online Resources to UseDigital Library Researchers and JournalistsNewsroom DatabasesDiscussion Groups and Social MediaUsing Boolean Logic to Search the InternetDownloading DatabasesDifferent File TypesDownloading Different FilesCAR WarsChapter ChecklistYour Turn to Practice
3. Spreadsheets, Part 1: Basic Math for JournalistsBecoming Friendly with NumbersLearning AddressesCalculating PercentagesGoing from Horizontal to VerticalComparing Parts to the SumSorting the ResultsUsing Average and Median for Better AccuracyInterpreting OutliersCAR WarsChapter ChecklistYour Turn to Practice
4. Spreadsheets, Part 2: More Math That MattersRatesRankingFilteringRatiosPivot TablesCharts and GraphsCAR WarsChapter ChecklistYour Turn to Practice
5. Database Managers, Part 1: Searching and SummarizingThe QuerySelecting and SearchingCriteria and FilteringSortingBoolean Logic: And, Or, NotGroupingCAR WarsChapter ChecklistYour Turn to Practice
6. Database Managers, Part 2: Matchmaking and Advanced QueriesRelational DatabasesJoining TablesEnterprise MatchmakingStructured Query LanguageCAR WarsChapter ChecklistYour Turn to Practice
Part II. Using Computer-Assisted Reporting In News Stories
7. Getting Data Not on the Web: How to Find and Negotiate for DataFinding DataObtaining a DatabaseThe Record LayoutPrivacy and Security IssuesHigh CostsImportingCAR WarsChapter ChecklistYour Turn to Practice
8. Building Your Own Database: How to Develop Exclusive SourcesWhen to BuildSpreadsheet or Database ManagerUsing the Database ManagerCreating a Relational DatabaseCAR WarsChapter ChecklistYour Turn to Practice
9. Fact Checking the Database: How to Find and Clean Dirty DataKinds of PitfallsTwo RulesRecord LayoutRecord Layout MiscuesCryptic CodesSorry, Wrong NumberWhere Is the Standard?Header-achesNumbers versus TextOffensive CharactersParsingCAR WarsChapter ChecklistYour Turn to Practice
10. Doing the Computer-Assisted Reporting Story: How to Report and Write with DataPick a Story You Know Can Be DonePick a Database You Can GetSome First-Time ExamplesStart SmallBuilding Your OwnMatch the Database to Your KnowledgeThe Minimum StoryKeep Up with Other Reporters' WorkIntegrate Databases into Your Daily WorkFind a PartnerBecoming Familiar with the Field of Data ProcessingLook for TipsWriting the StoryGood Reporting and EthicsStay Curious, Get ExcitedReporting with CARCAR WarsChapter ChecklistYour Turn to Practice
APPENDICESA. A Short Introduction to MappingB. A Short Introduction to Social Network AnalysisC. Choosing Hardware and Software
Selected BibliographyGlossary
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"Brant Houston has done more for helping journalists learn database journalism than any other person on this planet. We wouldn't exaggerate. He's taught thousands of reporters how to crunch spreadsheets, query data and create geocoded maps."
- David Cuillier, the University of Arizona, USA and Charles N. Davis, the University of Georgia, USA, in (2011) "The Art of Access: Strategies for acquiring public records".
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781138855038
Publisert
2015-01-12
Utgave
4. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
Routledge
Vekt
467 gr
Høyde
229 mm
Bredde
152 mm
Aldersnivå
UU, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Forfatter