A Journalist's First Six Months with Data

A Journalist’s First Six Months�with Data�

�MA in New Media and Journalism, Panteion University �

January, 20, 2016 �

Demetrios Pogkas�Journalist / Business, Tech, Data�BA, Communications and Mass Media, University of Athens�

A Journalist’s First Six Months with Data - @pogkas � MA in New Media and Journalism, Panteion University – 01/20/2016 �

What is Data Journalism��

Using Data to Discover, to Build or to Shed a Different Light to Your Story�

�Present Your Findings in an Interactive and �

Visually Compelling Way�

When It All Started��

Data journalism with the form we know it today starts with the 2010’s beginnings�


Is it Something New?��

Using data to Uncover a Truth dates back to 1854 �


Is it Something New?�


John Snow's data journalism: the cholera map that changed the world. Simon Rogers. theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/mar/15/john-snow-cholera-map.�

Is it Something New?��

Using data and numbers in media is not new (visualisations, infographics, data tables) �


�Data now becomes an integral part of the newsroom

(journalists & techies working together) �

BUT�


Some of My Data Journalism Favourites�


In Climbing Income Ladder, Location Matters. David Leonhardt. nytimes.com/2013/07/22/business/in-climbing-income-ladder-location-matters.html.�



Hit-and-runs take a rising toll on cyclists. Armand Emamdjomeh, Laura J. Nelson and Joseph Serna. graphics.latimes.com/la-bike-hit-and-runs.�



Message Machine - Reverse Engineering the 2012 Campaign. Jeff Larson and Al Shaw. projects.propublica.org/emails.�

Message Machine: “You Probably Don’t Know Janet”. Jeff Larson, Al Shaw and Lois Beckett. propublica.org/special/message-machine-you-probably-dont-know-janet �



Sospechosos viajes de Boudou: el Senado pagó viáticos por destinos que no visitó. Maia Jastreblansky. lanacion.com.ar/1568445-sospechosos-viajes-de-boudou-el-senado-pago-viaticos-por-destinos-que-no-visito �

Tools for Data Journalism (The Essentials) �•  Scraping: import.io (www.import.io) �•  Cleaning: Open (Google) Refine (openrefine.org) �•  Analysis: Microsoft Excel / Google Spreadsheets�

MySQL (mysql.com) �•  Visualisation: Tableau (tableau.com/products/public) �

Plotly (www.plot.ly) � Google Fusion Tables (google.com/fusiontables) � CartoDB (cartodb.com) � Mapbox (mapbox.com) � ChartBuilder (quartz.github.io/Chartbuilder) �

•  Code: D3js (d3js.org) � HighCharts.js (highcharts.com) � Python (python.org) �


Where to Find Your Data�

•  OpenGov / Open Administration Databases�•  Public Authorities�•  International Organisations�•  Freedom of Information Acts�•  Financial / Business Data�•  Sports Data�


You Can Also Build Your Own Data��

•  Crowdsourcing�•  Social Media�

BUT�


My (Few) Experiences with Data Journalism�


Data Project #1: Forest Fires in Greece 2000-2014 �Goals:�

- How Many Forest Fires in Greece?�- How Much Forest Burned Down?�

- Where Most Fires?��

Data Source:�- Fire Service of Greece via Data.gov.gr �

�Tools Used:�

- Excel for Data Analysis & Processing (Pivot Tables) �- Tableau for Visualisation�

�Challenges: �

- Data not always accurate – mistypes or actual entries??�

- No geolocation points / turnaround through Google Maps (only for first 100 entries) �

�


huffingtonpost.gr/dimitrios-pogkas/-data-blog_b_7911452.html �demetriospogkas.com/dasikes-pyrkagies-stin-ellada-methodologia-data-journalism �

Data Project #1: Forest Fires in Greece 2000-2014 �


Data Project #1: Forest Fires in Greece 2000-2014 �


Data Project #2: Financial Crisis and the Athens Stock Exchange 2009-2015 �

Goals:�- How ASE was impacted after capital controls?�

- How ASE has fluctuated during the crisis?�- How ASE has performed after crucial political and

financial events during the crisis?��

Data Source:�- ASE Data requested from HELEX �

- Timeline of Greek Financial Crisis from Wikipedia / cross-checked dates from Greek Press�

�Tools Used:�

- Excel for Data Analysis & Processing�- Tableau for Visualisation�


fortunegreece.com/article/chrimatistirio-ke-krisi-apo-to-kastelorizo-eos-ta-capital-control-data-blog�

demetriospogkas.com/elliniki-krisi-xrimatistirio-methodologia-data-journalism �


Data Project #2: Financial Crisis and the Athens Stock Exchange 2009-2015 �

Data Project #3: Outcomes of the September 2015 Election in Greece �

Goals:�- Delve into concurrent political and social conditions

of Greece through data��

Data Source:�The General Secretariat of the Government, Union

of Centrists Wikipedia Page, Ministry of Interior, Hellenic Police�

�Tools Used:�

- Excel for Data Analysis & Processing (Pivot Tables) �- Chartbuilder for Visualisation�


http://demetriospogkas.com/recent-greek-elections-sorted-out-in-6-graphs �







Data Project #4 (in the making): Global Oil Prices vs. Fuel Prices in Greece�

Goals:�- How much fuel prices in Greece have dropped comparing to the drop of oil prices?�- Why fuel prices don’t follow oil drop?�- How Greece compares to EU and EZ?��Data Source:�Ministry of Development’s Liquid Fuels Watch, ICE, EIA, ECB, EU Commission’s Weekly Oil Bulletin��Tools Used:�- Excel for Data Analysis & Processing�- JavaScript (HighCharts.js Library) & Photoshop for Visualisation ��Challenges: �- No industry expertise – Have to educate myself first before the readers�- How to properly calculate and measure comparison between the two values?�- How to properly visualise outcomes?�


Thank you!�www.demetriospogkas.com�

[email protected]�FB.com/demetrios.pogkas�

@pogkas�

A Journalist’s First Six Months with Data�Panteion University, MA in New Media and Journalism – January, 20, 2016 �

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A Journalist's First Six Months with Data