Post on 21-Dec-2015
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Geographic Information Systems In the Newsroom
Maps to know the story;
Maps to tell the story www.egroups.com/group/jagis-l
J. T. JohnsonVisiting Professor of Analytic Journalism
Boston Universitytom@jtjohnson.com
2 NetMedia2000 © J.T.Johnson 2000____________________________July 6-7, 2000
Objectives
Quick introduction to GIS definitions and concepts GIS = a tool for all aspects of publishing and
broadcasting News/editorial -- circulation -- advertising --
marketing -- production Whet appetite for the types of stories enhanced by
GIS Trigger some ideas on how to make current stories
better Show that all this is knowable and possible
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Journalism is…
“The central purpose of journalism is to provide
citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society.'‘ Bill Kovach, curator Nieman Foundation Harvard University
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Process of Journalism
Data In --> Analysis --> Info Out.
Information = that which reduces uncertainty or, (in the case of journalism and our audiences,
that which provides insight
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Why do we need to know about GIS?
Practice higher level of journalism per our mission
Need to know how those we report on -- government, NGOs, business, politicians -- are managing their particular neighborhood in the Infosphere,
Often, only maps make sense of phenomena
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GIS is...
“...an integrated set of software tools for the collection, storage, integration and analysis of geographically located data.”
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What is GIS- Layers concept illustrated
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What can we do with GIS?
Show the past, present and future in a meaningful -- and, increasingly, searchable -- context
Reveal quantitative and qualitative phenomena buried in masses of data that can only be understood in map form
Get new directions for our reportingCommunicate in a way easily understood
by readers and viewers.
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Textual fog obscures meaning: Breast cancer data via text
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Breast Cancer cluster map gives Breast Cancer cluster map gives meaningmeaning
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Variety of uses for journalists
CrimeEconomicsDemographicsPolitical activityCampaign contribs.EducationPublic HealthTaxationChurch
membership
Environmental issues
Traffic patternsUrban sprawlPolitical negotiatio
ns (e.g. India and Pakistan, Ecuador and Peru, Guatemala and Belize, Russia and Japan, Britain and Argentina)
Robin sightings
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GIS today, especially for journalists,
results from convergence of…
Hardware (CPU speed, monitor size and resolution, internet bandwidth, connection speed at ever-reduced price)
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GIS today, especially for journalists,
results from convergence of…
Software (GIS applications that allow layering of multiple data sets)
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GIS today, especially for journalists, results from
convergence of…
Available applicable data sets: maps, public and private data with geocodes
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JAGIS (Journalism And GIS) resources: Concepts
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UK Public Records Office
http://www.pro.gov.uk/
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UK Nat’l Digital Archive Datasets
http://ndad.ulcc.ac.uk
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The Domesday Book, 1086: Cambridgeshire
http://www.geog.qmw.ac.uk/gbhgis/sampler5/sampler5.html
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The Compton Census - 1676 - Religion
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Environmental Studies
SF Bay Shoreline (original) SF Bay Shoreline (original+50 yrs) SF Bay Shoreline (original+100yrs)
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Weather reports-Hurricane Mitch
http://130.11.52.118/mitch/views/eventimpact.html
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Morphing of non-traditional applications
Defense applications --> Journalism
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Cambridge Research Associates-SFOFlight approach: SFO
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Cambridge Research Associates-Sarajevo Talks
Sarajevo and Bosnia: Dayton Peace Talks
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Cambridge Research Associates-Sarajevo Talks
Calculated overlay dimensions on aerial pix or satellite images.
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Suggest links for further info
JAGIS http://online.sfsu.edu/~jagis/
UK Ordnance Surveyhttp://www.usgs.gov/research/gis/title.html
UK Census datahttp://www.kinds.ac.uk/kinds/
US Geologic Survey
UniversitiesManchester Information & Associated Services http://www.mimas.ac.uk/
Publications ArcNews Directions Magazin
e GeoInfo Systems GeoPlace Publicatio
ns
Tutorials Univ. of Michigan (U
S) ESRI Virtual Univers
ity About.com list
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GIS online resources
Corporate sites Cambridge Research
Assoc. www.cambridge.com/ ESRI www.esri.com MapInfo www.mapinfo.com/ Intergraph www.intergraph.com/gis/default.asp
PCI Geomatics www.pci.on.ca/ ERDAS www.erdas.com/
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How do we do this?
Decide on a relatively simple story that has geographical implications Crime -- Traffic -- Health care
Get software Work through a tutorial or two
Get dataGo to work
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How/where do we get software?Software, hardware and data on hand in
your organizationFree or low-cost software
Geography Network (www.geographynetwork.com)
Associated Press’ MapShop GIS.Com (www.gis.com) UK Ordnance Survey
(www.ordsvy.gov.uk/)
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How/where do we get software?Software, hardware and data on hand in
your organizationFree or low-cost software
ArcExplorer (http://www.esriuk.com/) Maptitude (http://www.caliper.com/maptovu.htm)
MapPoint (http://www.microsoft.com/office/mappoint/default.htm)
MapInfo (http://www.mapinfo.com/ )
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Workshop #1: “Put them on the map: “Put them on the map: Reporting from a neighborhood”Reporting from a neighborhood”
Peter VerweyDirector, New Media Dept.School of JournalismUtrecht, The Netherlands
Intro levelHands-on training9.45-11.15Room E215
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Workshop #2:“Points and Polygons: “Points and Polygons: Putting Data in its Place”Putting Data in its Place”
Steve DoigKnight Professor of JournalismArizona State University
Intro/inter. level.Hands-on training11.45-13.15Room E215
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Workshop #3:“From Raw Mapping to Useful Material: Getting Answers with GIS.”
Mark StilemanGIS Team LeaderUK’s Ordnance Survey
Intro/inter. level.Hands-on training14.15-15.45Room E215
Picture of Stileman here
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Workshop #4:”GIS as a Research Tool: ”GIS as a Research Tool: Applications and implications of geo-demographic Applications and implications of geo-demographic
profiling of newspaper web users”profiling of newspaper web users” Jonathan Raper
Prof. of GeographicInformation Science
City University - London.
Intro/inter. level.Hands-on training16.15 - 17.45Room E215
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Change of Schedule
Workshop #1 - 9.45-11.15 - VerweyWorkshop #2 - 11.45-13.15 - DoigWorkshop #3 - 14.15-15.45 - StilemanWorkshop #4 - 16.15 - 17.45 - Raper
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Geographic Information Systems In the Newsroom
Maps to know the story;
Maps to tell the storywww.egroups.com/group/jagis-l
J. T. JohnsonVisiting Professor of Analytic Journalism
Boston Universitytom@jtjohnson.com