Research

The 2016 presidential election surprised many because Donald Trump’s win defied the vast majority of polls. In the aftermath, some are blaming journalists for rushing information out quickly without explaining basic polling caveats. Despite all the lavish attention, polls are only as valid as their design, execution and analysis.

There are many ways to visualize data these days, as well as an increasing number of places from which to draw datasets. But it’s not always easy to figure out the shortest path to production for media use, especially on deadline. Here, we’ll focus on just one use case, the classic time-series graph — the display of the change in a variable, or variables, typically over hours, days, months or years.

Being a journalist means being resourceful. Presented with a name, you know where to dig. One place to hunt for leads is your state’s vital records office, which keeps certificates of birth, death, marriage and divorce. How much these forms tell you depends on state law.

Knowing how to conduct deeper research efficiently and effectively is a critical skill for journalists — especially in the information age. It is, like other facets of the profession such as interviewing, a matter of practice and establishing good habits. And once you find a successful routine for information-gathering, it will pay dividends time and again.

The post below is by the folks at data.world — a social network-like platform to find, collaborate on, and share data. Thanks to Rachel Downs, Ian Greenleigh, and Dashiel Lopez Mendez, whose data analysis allowed them to create the FOIA Predictor, a tool they describe below.

Nonprofit organizations perform some of the most vital work in the United States, often serving the needy and filling gaps where society does not, or cannot, deliver services or provide safety nets.

At its founding several years ago, Miller-McCune immediately distinguished itself in the noisy marketplace of magazines by elevating coverage of the world of academic research. More recently, the Santa Barbara-based magazine renamed itself Pacific Standard — a kind of West Coast answer to The Atlantic — aiming to accent its distinctive scholarly coverage with a Western bent.