Data Journalism 101

Excellence in Journalism Conference 2014

Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism at ASU

Michael J. Berens – !e Seattle Times

Session Two: Working with Data Sort * Filter * Calculations

!e Tip �  It’s hunting season, again, and your editor wants a daily story

about this seasonal rite of passage.

�  What is the most common type of injury?

�  What day was the deadliest for hunters?

�  How often is impairment (drugs / alcohol) a factor?

�  And dozens of other questions

�  “Interview the data”

Hunting Database

Sorting

Filter

Pivot tables

!e Tip •  Sources say that football coaches routinely earn higher

salaries than the most experienced teachers.

•  Anecdotally, it appears to be true but other sources say it’s an isolated issue.

•  How do you attack the story and QUANTIFY the issue conclusively – avoiding the he said, she said conundrum?

Calculations