{
  "id": "1993-january-bits-bytes-and-nibbles",
  "slug": "1993-january-bits-bytes-and-nibbles",
  "url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1993-january-bits-bytes-and-nibbles.html",
  "year": 1993,
  "month": "January",
  "monthNum": 1,
  "headline": "Bits, bytes and nibbles",
  "kicker": "",
  "author_name": "",
  "author_title": "",
  "affiliation": "",
  "summary": "The article lists several upcoming seminars and workshops on computer-assisted reporting for journalists, including programs from the Education Writers Association, University of North Carolina, and Indiana University, featuring prominent journalists and instructors.",
  "keywords": [
    "journalism",
    "training",
    "reporting"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Journalism & Newsroom",
    "Investigative Methods",
    "Technology"
  ],
  "technologies": [
    "VU/TEXT",
    "Nexis",
    "DataTimes"
  ],
  "full_text": "Bits, bytes and nibbles\n\nMICAR's March seminar is already full. But MICAR isn't the only wheel in town when it comes to training journalists in computer-assisted reporting. Here's a list of some upcoming seminars. If we've missed any, please send the information to Uplink.\n\nThe Education Writers Association will present \"Computer Power in Education Reporting\" Feb. 26 in Arlington, Va.\n\nThe one-day workshop co-sponsored by The Freedom Forum is advertised as a \"day packed with story ideas, tips on getting started and ways to solve problems in your newsroom.\"\n\nGuest speakers will include Pulitzer Prize winner Elliot Jaspin of Cox Newspapers, Aleta Watson from the San Jose Mercury News, Joseph Garcia from the Dallas Morning News and Pat Ordovensky from USA Today.\n\nThe conference is free, but space is limited to 40 participants. For information call Lisa Walker at (202) 429-9680.\n\nThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will present a \"Workshop in Precision Journalism: Computer-Assisted Reporting for the Next Century,\" July 12-16 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Topics include the use of statistics for journalists, an overview of statistical software packages, the graphic representation of data and an introduction to the data holdings of major social science archives. The class will also present online search strategies for full-text databases such as VU/TEXT, NEXIS and DataTimes. Phil Meyer, author of Precision Journalism, will be one of the instructors. Other teachers include sociologists and librarians from the university. The seminar costs $750 but early registration, before May 15, is $650. For more information, call Dr. Beverly Wiggins at (919) 966-2350 or write to the Workshop in Precision Journalism, Institute for Research in Social Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3355.\n\nIndiana University's National Institute for Advanced Reporting presents its fourth annual conference, \"Computers Equal Power Journalism,\" March 12-14 in Indianapolis. Session leaders will show participants how to build computer-assisted projects from the ground floor up. Some of the session topics include: Methodology of Working with Statistics; Dealing with Dirty Data: Ethical Problems; and Management of Computer Resources: In-house Training. Speakers include Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporters Don Barlett and Jim Steele; Dwight Morris, editor of special projects at the Los Angeles Times Washington, D.C., bureau; Don Fry, writing coach of The Poynter Institute; and Pat Stith, reporter at the Raleigh News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. The seminar costs $135. For information call Deb Perkins at (317) 274-2776 or write to the Conference on Computer-Assisted Journalism, I.U. School of Journalism at Indianapolis, 902 W. New York Street, ES 4104, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5154.\n\nThe Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse will hold the TRAC Workshop on Nuclear Regulatory Commission Data May 20-23 at Syracuse University in New York. The workshop will teach individuals how to use NRC data as the basis for investigations. Attendance to the workshop will be limited to 15 persons. The cost is $200 for registration and $180 for lodging and meals. For information contact Randi Maroney, TRAC, 478 Newhouse II, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, (315) 443-3563.\n\nAmerican University will offer \"Journalists, Computers and the Federal Government: A Mid-Career Seminar for Reporters and Editors\" July 18-23 in Washington, D.C. The seminar promises hands-on experience working with databases maintained by various government agencies as well as commercial online services. Ethics, access and statistical concepts will also be covered at the American University seminar. While prior computer experience is not required, the seminar will be limited to 10 to 12 journalists who have at least two years Washington reporting or editing experience. The cost is $650 for early registration before March 1 and $750 after March 1. For more information call Wendell Cochran at (202) 885-2002 or write to the American University School of Communication, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20016.\n\nInvestigative Reporters and Editors and The News & Observer will hold \"Computing: The News Frontier\" October 21-24 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The seminar promises to put \"bytes into your bark\" through hands-on training in computer-assisted reporting. Topics include: finding and negotiating for government databases; exploring local, state and federal on-line databases; and using digitized maps. Participants will return with a budget and plan for starting a computer-assisted reporting program at their own news organization. For information write to Dan Woods, The News & Observer. P.O. Box 191. Raleigh. NC 27602.",
  "provenance": {
    "extracted_by": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "extracted_at": "2026-07-05",
    "verified": true
  },
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  "html_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1993-january-bits-bytes-and-nibbles.html",
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