1) Learn the language. "The people who give you advice on computers speak in a foreign tongue Learn enough of the lingo to know when data processing people (inside and outside the newsroom) are trying to snow you. Getting a computer-assisted reporting pro- gram started in a traditional newsroom is typi- cally the first and toughest step for the trained reporter. Brant Houston is a reporter for The Hartford Courant.
(Conn.) who. along with Kenton Robinson, has braved the challenge of introducing computer-assisted reporting to new territory. The above are some of their experiences and survival tips. If you have any of your own words of wisdom, please send them to the Missouri In- stitute for Computer-Assisted Reporting, and we TIpass them along. 2) Know your hardware and software require- ments. "Expert computer people, usually from land of the mainframe, want to give you a sledgehammer to hit a nail Those people will do a-special program for you when a store-bought piece of software will do." 3) Educate your editors.
"Once you score your first major story, editors will want a similar story every day and not understand why you can't hit a few buttons and run out a blockbuster every 24 hours. You need to work on convincing editors that many stories take time, and end up'being much better in content, much wider in scope and have greater impact." 4) Educate other reporters. "Reporters will want to stick to their tried and true ways, talking to people for anecdotes and slowly sifting through thousands of pages of documents.
They also have computer or keyboard phobia. Get them to sit still for 15 minutes and show them time-saving tricks." 5) Know how to fight for funds. "Once you have bought your equipment, no one may see any reason that you need more. Some people won't understand that the computer business is developing rap- idly. Become a superior memo writer and use graphics and documentation to back up the memos. Also, keep a list of every major and minor success." 6) Learn how to get government data.
"With constant self-education, you can learn to discern the amount of manure you are being served by government owners of computer data. If they say they can't technically give you something, offer to get your own data processing people to help them doi it. Also, scoff at their first purchase price figure (unless it's zero)." Do even the boring work yourself. You will spend time on janitorial work such as saving and backing up files of information, cleaning your computer files and installing new software.
You probably will want to get someone else to do this. This is a bad idea because you lose track of your own information and how to move it around and use it." 8) Work with a partner. "If you are a reporter your production will suffer and thus your stature with production minded managers. If possible pursue this with another editor or reporter be- cause the buddy system works well. At The Courant, my editor Kenton Robinson and I work together, teaching each other, with me concentrating on data tapesand diskettes, and with him nailing down getting information through the phone lines."