CAR Trek: Oct. 6-9, 1994
Panels set for fall conference
Pick out your favorite pocket protector and plan to head west this fall when IRE, NICAR, and the San Jose Mercury News present CAR Trek: Computer-Assisted Reporting in the 90s, Oct. 6 - 9 in Silicon Valley, Calif.
The schedule is shaping up for what should be the largest gathering of computer-assisted reporters ever. More than 110 experts in computer-assisted reporting will share their experience and provide practical tips for doing CAR. In addition, 500 attendees will be able to take three hands-on training courses - so register early to ensure a spot.
Here are some of presentations planned for CAR Trek 1994:
- Introduction to Computer-Assisted Reporting - The Power of Computer-Assisted Reporting: Examples of what others have done - What you need: Software and hardware - Introduction to spreadsheets: Using them quickly on the beat - Introduction to relational database programs: How to matchmake - Introduction to the online world - How to get the most out of your searches - Linking to your library - Introduction to the Internet - Number crunching for journalists - CAR on a shoestring: It doesn't have to be expensive to do CAR - Old fashioned shoeleather: How to get out from behind that computer - Beat reporting and CAR - Turning online information into stories - One project-soup to nuts: The planning and execution of a CAR project - Telling the story: Writing a compelling story from numbers is no easy task. - Data and the law - California access - California government online - Cyber-law: It's a brave new on-line world, you reprint information from the Net? - Government Databases - CAR Trek - The Next Generation: The CAR pioneers take a look into the future - Surgical strikes with medical databases - Workplace safety and databases - Inequality: Gender and racial disparity - Welfare and housing information - Exposing immigration abuses - Databases for business reporting - Crime in the community: Using data to go deeper - Using CAR for education probes - Covering the environment with CAR - CAR for feature stories - The Census - Campaign contributions - Federal election financing - Bad data: How to spot data that might be filled with errors and what to do about it - CAR and Macs: See how Macintosh computers can be used for projects - Mapping with Atlas GIS and MapInfo - CAR and graphics - Statistical analysis with SPSS and SAS - Nine-Track and cartridge technology - Organizing notes and files: Several computer applications for organizing and tracking information. - Advanced programming - Advanced statistics - From Hieroglyphics to data: Techniques for taking data on paper or in ASCII format and putting it into a database manager, using scanners and/or special software applications - CAR for broadcast - Preach, pitch and pray: Selling the benefits of CAR to the bosses and persuading them to buy the equipment you'll need - News of the future: Where is the news business headed? - Look who's talking: This session looks at who's typing away at the other end of the line, where the information may reveal far less than what's really out there - Surfing the Internet - Point and shoot: Here's how you can set up easy-access databases without knowing the ins and outs of software - How to set up CAR training - Keeping your data all shaped up - Building databases - CD-ROMs
Special sessions
Tour of Mercury Center, the San Jose Mercury News' online, phone, and fax service Demonstration Room: Ongoing demonstrations of the latest technology including a session on the wireless/portable office Special editor and publisher program: How to bring CAR into your newsroom Super-session on ethics Hands-on training in spreadsheets, database management programs, statistical analysis software, mapping, online databases, the Internet, nine-track technology, and building databases
For more information about this conference, call IRE/NICAR at (314) 882-2042