It's time to accelerate again at NICAR. Over the coming months we will start a series of new efforts and expand on the many already underway. Here's a partial list of what Uplink and the NICAR database library plan for the New Year:
Add an Uplink column on the use of statistical methods in reporting. Provide databases at low cost to journalists, and consistently add tipsheets, handouts and sample stories to the database package. Add an intermediate level seminar (coming this January) on data cleaning, good database design, and advanced data analysis. Add a seminar in the spring on creating searchable databases on the Web. Become a broader repository for common and often used data, particularly state and local campaign data. Continue our programs to make CAR available to minority journalists by offering fellowships and working with the Missouri School of Journalism's Multicultural Management Program. Offer management seminars for broadcast and print journalists on how to bring and keep a good CAR program at their news organizations. Continue our basic bootcamps. Our January bootcamp is full, and our May bootcamp is filling fast. We'll have two more in the summer. Give an expanded national conference in Nashville, Tenn., in March. This national conference will not only cover the usual computer-assisted reporting panels and training, but also will have advanced classes in mapping, statistics, programming, Web development, and Lotus Notes. Participate in and give academic symposiums and work with journalism faculties to integrate CAR in their curricula. Develop more joint programs with other universities. We already work with Northwestern University, University of North Carolina, University of Maryland and Columbia University. Continue our on-the-road programs to better help small- to medium-size news organizations, but add on-line tutorials as follow-up training.