When the institute for computer-assisted reporting began at Missouri in 1989 (then named MICAR), the basic offering was a six-day immersion "bootcamp."
Under the direction of computer guru Elliot Jaspin (and later former executive IRE director Andrew Scott), the four bootcamps a year turned out dozens of reporters who were pioneers in their newsrooms in the early '90s.
In early 1994, when the institute became NICAR, it began an ambitious outreach program of road training that has led to about 135 seminars in two years throughout the United States.
At the same time, the bootcamps have continued to thrive. With the increase in NICAR staff, we have been able to expand the average number of bootcamp participants from 12 to 20. This year, because of the demand, we added a fifth bootcamp and are trying to find a way to add specialized seminars in the coming year.
The curriculum at the bootcamps also has changed as the technology has changed. While we still teach database managers, spreadsheets, using 9-Track tapes, and getting and cleaning data, we have incorporated the Internet into the curriculum, showing journalists how to gather and analyze data from the Web sites.
As result of the expansion, more than 225 print and broadcast journalists have completed the bootcamp since January 1994.
We also have been working to make our curriculum more relevant to international journalists. In the past year, journalists from Denmark, Finland, Australia and England have signed up.
In the coming year, we are faced with the challenge of teaching various skill levels. We intend to keep the basic bootcamp, but we are already developing the materials for an intermediate-level bootcamp. In addition, we will again offer our advanced seminar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill May 4-9, 1997, with CAR pioneer Philip Meyer.
If you are interested in attending bootcamp, the next one scheduled with remaining openings is for Jan. 5-10. For more information, call NICAR at (573) 882-0684, or send e-mail to nicar@muccmail.missouri.edu