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You can use this page to email Paul Bradshaw about Data Journalism Heist.
About the Book
Data journalism is a key skill for journalists to differentiate themselves in a world where almost anyone can publish, and competition for journalism jobs is fierce.
Whether it's hard stories from government spending and MPs' expenses, or softer stories from sports data, fashion trends or music and social activity, our increasingly digital world is providing a rich range of potential new story sources - and new forms of storytelling too.
This short ebook introduces you quickly to key techniques in finding that data and turning it into stories - through a 'Data Journalism Heist'.
This isn't about the huge investigative projects that you hear about, but the everyday stories that you can do with speed and simplicity. It's about getting in, getting the data, and getting the story out safely. No one gets hurt.
In the process you'll learn about:
- Sources of data - where to find data stories and leads
- Typical data stories - how to find simple stories in data
- Basic spreadsheet techniques - finding the biggest and smallest values; calculating averages and totals.
- Top techniques for getting stories against a deadline - using filters and pivot tables to get to the story quickly
- Making a clean getaway - avoiding mistakes in data journalism
- Telling the story - basic techniques in visualising and humanising your data-led story
As the book is published you'll receive regular updates as you build on previous skills towards the final story. User feedback, examples and ideas will be incorporated as they come in.
About the Author
Paul Bradshaw runs the MA in Data Journalism and the MA in Multiplatform and Mobile Journalism at Birmingham City University, where he is an associate professor. He publishes the Online Journalism Blog, and is the founder of investigative journalism website HelpMeInvestigate. He has written for the Guardian and Telegraph’s data blogs, journalism.co.uk, Press Gazette, InPublishing, Nieman Reports and the Poynter Institute in the US. Formerly Visiting Professor at City University’s School of Journalism in London, He is the author of the Online Journalism Handbook, now in its second edition, Magazine Editing (3rd Edition) with John Morrish and Mobile-First Journalism with Steve Hill. Other books which Bradshaw has contributed to include Investigative Journalism (second edition), Web Journalism: A New Form of Citizenship; and Citizen Journalism: Global Perspectives.
His books on Leanpub include Scraping for Journalists, Finding Stories in Spreadsheets, the Data Journalism Heist, Snapchat for Journalists, and 8000 Holes: How the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Lost its Way.
Bradshaw has been listed in Journalism.co.uk’s list of the leading innovators in journalism and media and Poynter’s most influential people in social media. In 2010, he was shortlisted for Multimedia Publisher of the Year. In 2016 he was part of a team that won the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards.
In addition to teaching and writing, Paul acts as a consultant and trainer to a number of organisations on social media and data journalism. You can find him on Twitter @paulbradshaw