Analytical software elbows in

A 1995 survey of newsroom computer-assisted reporting (CAR) software usage reveals that Xy Write dominated word processing, Excel led spreadsheets, Paradox was preferred for databases, and MapInfo emerged as the top mapping tool, while most newspapers had not yet adopted statistical or mapping software.

By Bruce Garrison University of Miami

What was the most popular combination of software used for CAR in 1995? It was Xy Write, Excel, Paradox, askSam, MapInfo, SPSS and Procomm. Here are the details:

Word Processing. Xy Write (27 percent) remains the most-used word processor and text editor in newsrooms for purposes related to CAR as well as general newsroom writing tasks.

Microsoft Word (20 percent) and Novell WordPerfect (14 percent) are becoming more common as newsrooms move to PC-based networks and adopt the leading office "suites" produce by Microsoft, Novell and Lotus.

Spreadsheets. Microsoft's Excel has become the dominant spreadsheet (31 percent) in newsrooms that reported using spreadsheets, but many journalists also use Lotus 1-2-3 (20 percent) and Novell's Quattro Pro (17 percent). Noticeable proportions did not use spreadsheets or did not respond, however.

Excel's use grew 9 percent from 1994 to 1995, while Quattro Pro and 1-2-3 use grew very little - about 1 percent each. The fact that there was a 16 percent drop in "missing/none" responses in the single year indicates more awareness of products in use as well as more use of spreadsheets that began in the past year.

Relational databases. Relational database management systems, or relational database software, are very popular. In 1995, Borland Paradox was the preferred (24 percent) software, but Microsoft's FoxPro (21 percent) was also widely used. Another Microsoft relational database program, Access, is growing in popularity as part of the Microsoft Office suite "Professional" edition. It was used by 5 percent of newspapers in 1995.

Analytical Mapping. Mapping programs have not yet gained widespread use. One of the major reasons, until recently, has been the high cost of the software. Some producers lowered their prices in 1995.

Most newspapers (71 percent) were not yet using computer mapping products. But the decrease in this figure shows signs of some growth in use. MapInfo (15 percent) and Atlas GIS (9 percent) are the most widely used.

There were also differences in use by size. Larger newspapers (43 percent) used the product far more than smaller ones (10 percent). MapInfo gained in use over the year, about 7 percent, while Atlas GIS did not change in proportion of use over the year.

Statistics. Not many newspapers - just 16 percent - used statistical software in 1995. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) is the most popular CAR statistics tool with just 9 percent use. The Statistical Analysis System (SAS), was used by 3 percent, and other products by 4 percent.

Communications. Procomm Plus dominates newsroom preferences for general on-line connections. In 1995, about 45 percent of newsrooms using communications software reported preferring Procomm Plus for DOS or Windows. All other programs - such as Crosstalk, Windows Terminal, Smartcom - constitute only about 39 percent of use. However, one in six newspapers, 16 percent still did not use any communications software or simply did not know what was in use.

Bruce Garrison can be reached at (305) 284-2846, or send e-mail to bgarriso@umiami.ir.miami.edu