Last night, Scott Klein, who runs the News Apps team at ProPublica, took part in the weekly #wjchat on Twitter. The topic was “So you want to be a data journalist?” Other journalists in the data/interactive journalism community, including Yuri Victor of Vox and Sandhya Kambhampati from Chronicle of Higher Education, chimed in for the conversation aimed at helping people figure out what was the best way to enter the field.
Here are the key takeaways from the chat:
1. What is a data journalist? What skills and knowledge do you need?
Short answer: The ability to think of creative ways to channel data. You can interview a person, and you can interview spreadsheets.
@wjchat also be transparent about data analysis & open to new ways of looking at data #wjchat
— Sandhya Kambhampati (@sandhya__k) July 30, 2015
2. What’s the difference between data journalism, graphics, CAR, news applications, etc.?
Short answer: One isn’t really better than the other. The end result might be different, the goal is the same – how can one use data and technology to tell a better story?
@wjchat Data journalism/CAR are processes. Apps and graphics are products of the processes. #wjchat
— Aric Chokey (@aric_chokey) July 30, 2015
3. How do you go from being a reporter to a data reporter?
Short answer: There is no “single” way. But the most recommended one is to find a project you are passionate about and work at it. Also check out Scott Klein’s guide on How to Start Learning to Program and Numbers in the Newsroom by Sarah Cohen.
@kleinmatic @wjchat Yes! Start building things you think need to be built. Ask for help when you get stuck. Next time you'll get less stuck.
— amandabee (@amandabee) July 30, 2015
4. How do you go from being a math nerd/coder to being a journalist?
Short answer: You know the easy bit. Now comes to the hard part. As per Klein, “journalism is a natural fit for mathletes who want to make the world a better place.” There are also opportunities such the OpenNews Fellowship that are aimed at bringing people with coding acumen into the newsroom.
Missed tonight’s #wjchat @wjchat. A4!!!
http://t.co/HSNZpr6fJQ
https://t.co/7S7ItuZQKH
https://t.co/np1xS1A4NV
— Brian Boyer (@brianboyer) July 30, 2015
@wjchat A4 I think journalism is a natural fit for the mathlete who wants to make the world a better place #wjchat
— Scott Klein (@kleinmatic) July 30, 2015
5. What should I study in school to learn to be a data journalist? Do I even need school to do this?
Short answer: With the power of the Internet, you can teach yourself anything! However, take statistics classes if you want an extra edge. Klein also admits that most of the people on his team have a journalism degree.
@wjchat A5A I think we all wish we'd taken more stats classes, too. #wjchat
— Scott Klein (@kleinmatic) July 30, 2015
@wjchat A5a I started in broadcast/radio & learned stats along the way. I don't think there's only *1* specific way to get you here #wjchat
— Sandhya Kambhampati (@sandhya__k) July 30, 2015
6. Dealing with data can be time-consuming. How do you judge when a project is worth it?
Short answer: That can be hard to judge. Sometimes you will work on a story and it won’t pan out. That’s OK.
@wjchat A6 If the answer to that doesn't blow us away, it's probably not worth the time. #wjchat
— Scott Klein (@kleinmatic) July 30, 2015
@kleinmatic @wjchat and sometimes data doesn’t work out at all which should be totally OK. #wjchat
— ♥ (@yurivictor) July 30, 2015
7. I’m the only person in my newsroom who knows data or how to code. What do I do?
Short answer: It can be lonely. Three steps: 1. Teach. 2. Be realistic on what you can do. 3. Find people on the Internet. (Join the NICAR listserv if you are not on it already)
@wjchat Don't over commit. Work on something manageable, show the value. Count the REAL time required. #wjchat
— William Cannon (@NewsCannon) July 30, 2015
@wjchat Find your ppl on the internet! NICAR-L for starters. Also I'm in a slack just for lonely newsroom coders, msg me for invite #wjchat
— scottpham (@scottpham) July 30, 2015
8. What do you use daily to manipulate, edit and handle data?
Short answer: Data analysis -> Excel, R, a Relational database management system like MySQL/Postgres, Python/Ruby/node.js, QGIS. Data cleaning -> Tabula, OpenRefine. Added tip: IRE just launched a set of tutorials for some data tools. Check them out.
@wjchat Q8 Excel, an RDBMS like SQL Server, MySQL or Postgres. A scripting language like Python or Ruby. Some do everything in R. #wjchat
— Scott Klein (@kleinmatic) July 30, 2015
@wjchat A8 We also love @TabulaPDF and OpenRefine and QGIS. #wjchat
— Scott Klein (@kleinmatic) July 30, 2015
Bonus: What skills do you look for when hiring a data journalist?
Short answer: Obviously, you would go through all the pain to get hired as a data journalist. Here is what Scott Klein looks for in a potential employee:
@wjchat 1) Journalism skills (editorial judgment, the ability to get strangers to talk to you, acquire and understand data, etc.) #wjchat
— Scott Klein (@kleinmatic) July 30, 2015
@wjchat 2) Design talent (the ability to tell stories visually) #wjchat
— Scott Klein (@kleinmatic) July 30, 2015
@wjchat and 3) Coding acumen. #wjchat
— Scott Klein (@kleinmatic) July 30, 2015
He also admits coding is by far the easiest to teach.
