Data as News: Journalists’ Experiences in Seeking and Using Databases of Public Records Ira Chinoy Philip Merrill College of Journalism University of Maryland
How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases Elements of data requests Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective Core issues Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?
How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases Elements of data requests Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective Core issues Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?
How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases Elements of data requests Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective Core issues Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?
How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases Elements of data requests Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective Core issues Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?
How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases Elements of data requests Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective Core issues Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?
How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases Elements of data requests Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective Core issues Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS NAME NAME DATE OF BIRTH DATE OF BIRTH EMPLOYER INFRACTION SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS NAME NAME DATE OF BIRTH DATE OF BIRTH EMPLOYER INFRACTION
CNS stories using databases of public records: Consumer complaints Prison violence Boating safety enforcement Train accidents Amusement rides Subprime loans Unsolved homicides Leaking underground oil storage tanks Campaign finance Lawyer discipline
Terms: “database” “relational database” “tables” “records” “fields” “codes” “queries” “joins”
Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
Database and spreadsheet programs have their own unique file types (.xls, .mdb …). But data can easily be moved between one file type and another by exporting and importing it in standard formats: “dbase” (.dbf) “comma - delimited text” “fixed - length text”
Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
Generally, when copying a database, copying ALL DATA is LESS WORK than copying SOME DATA In other words, providing all records in the database is less work than limiting the request to one or a few years
Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
Copying and redacting fields from a database with 1,000 records is the same amount of work as copying and redacting fields from the same database with 100,000 records
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that. It takes too long.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that. It takes too long. It costs too much money for us to do it.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that. It takes too long. It costs too much money for us to do it. There are confidential records mixed in.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that. It takes too long. It costs too much money for us to do it. There are confidential records mixed in. We don't think you'll understand the data / technology, you'll mess it up.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that. It takes too long. It costs too much money for us to do it. There are confidential records mixed in. We don't think you'll understand the data / technology, you'll mess it up. We'd love to give it to you but it violates our contract with the software company.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. A Maryland Case Documentation Fields Format Cost Time Waiver Fresh set of eyes Data and a story
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.” Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests? What is in the public interest?
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.” Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests? What is in the public interest?
Certainly, many databases are complex But many are not.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.” Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests? What is in the public interest?
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that. Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.” Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests? What is in the public interest?
Are there alternatives to case-by-case battles?
Are there solutions at the broad policy level?
Policies already require: Environmental Impact Statements Fiscal Notes Set-Aside Programs & Diversity Checklists How about: Public Records Assessments or Information Impact Statements
A challenge and an opportunity . . .
Ira Chinoy Philip Merrill College of Journalism University of Maryland ichinoy@jmail.umd.edu http://bit.ly/Ira_Chinoy
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