New M.E. furnishes a PC-friendly newsroom in Chicago

New Chicago Sun-Times managing editor Julia Wallace, who pioneered computer-assisted reporting at USA Today, aims to bring data analysis capabilities into the newsroom through a planned PC-based network conversion. Wallace views advanced reporting technology as now essential for competitive newspapers rather than a luxury.

Resourceful reporters at the Chicago Sun- Times, accustomed to doing data analysis on PC's at home, got a morale booster with the appointment of their new managing editor. Julia Wallace left USA Today in September to take the helm at the Sun-Times. - Wallace helped establish USA Today's computer-assisted reporting program and was managing editor of special projects when she left. "USA Today had a very structured program," explained Wallace.

"We don't have the same resources here, but some people have already figured out how to use computers for the appropriate stories." The Sun-Times' upcoming conversion to a PC-based network should help get data analysis out of reporters' living rooms and into the newsroom. When USA Today started its computer- assisted reporting program, it was a luxury that gave the paper an edge over competitors, said Wallace.

But she now considers such technol- ogy a necessity. "Times have changed so much that it's just another thing newspapers have to be able to do," said Wallace.