Mapping the News: GIS for graphics and stories
Transcript of Mapping the News: GIS for graphics and stories
Mapping the News:GIS for graphics and stories
David Herzog
Missouri School of JournalismNational Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting
How journalists use GIS
Geographic analysis
Make maps for graphics
Sometimes both
In the news: 2006 elections
In the news: 2000 elections
In the news:Hurricane Katrina
In the news:Other stories
A short history…
Miami, 1992
Hurricane Andrew hits south Fla.
Miami Herald
What caused the damage patterns to south Florida homes hit by Hurricane Andrew?
Analysis by surveying section
Mapped wind contour
The story
Newer homes suffered most
Construction outpaced building inspections
Shoddy building practices
Just one decade later . . .
Journalism slow to adopt
Data intensive
Labor intensiveTime to learnTime to analyze
Capital intensive
What helped?
Most data includes a geographic element1990 Census introduced analytic mapping to a few newsroomsGovernment agencies deploying GISAvailability of free GIS dataSoftware easier to use
Challenges today
Cost of softwareArcView $1,500 (US)MapInfo Professional $1,500Maptitude $500
Training needs
Data restrictions and costs
Promoting mapping at J-School
CAR class
Independent studies
Lab with GIS software
Promoting mapping IRE & NICAR
Mapping beat book
Promoting mapping IRE & NICAR
Mapping training
Promoting mapping IRE & NICAR
Uplink newsletter
Promoting mapping at IRE & NICAR
Mapping the News book
Where are we going?
Remote sensing
Mash-ups