{
  "id": "1996-july-bootcamps-fill-up-fast",
  "slug": "1996-july-bootcamps-fill-up-fast",
  "url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1996-july-bootcamps-fill-up-fast.html",
  "year": 1996,
  "month": "July",
  "monthNum": 7,
  "headline": "Bootcamps fill up fast",
  "kicker": "Popular training",
  "author_name": "Brant Houston",
  "author_title": "managing director",
  "affiliation": "NICAR",
  "summary": "NICAR has expanded its computer-assisted reporting bootcamp programs from six-day immersive courses to include road seminars and specialized training, with over 225 journalists completing bootcamps since 1994 and plans for intermediate and advanced level courses. The institute continues to evolve its curriculum to incorporate new technologies like the Internet while training journalists at all skill levels, including international participants.",
  "keywords": [
    "NICAR",
    "bootcamp",
    "journalists"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Journalism & Newsroom",
    "Investigative Methods",
    "Technology"
  ],
  "technologies": [
    "spreadsheet",
    "9-track tape",
    "Internet",
    "World Wide Web"
  ],
  "full_text": "When the institute for computer-assisted reporting began at Missouri in 1989 (then named MICAR), the basic offering was a six-day immersion \"bootcamp.\"\n\nUnder 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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nAt 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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nAs result of the expansion, more than 225 print and broadcast journalists have completed the bootcamp since January 1994.\n\nWe 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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nIf 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",
  "provenance": {
    "extracted_by": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "extracted_at": "2026-07-05",
    "verified": true
  },
  "similar": [
    {
      "slug": "1997-february-get-your-training",
      "score": 0.348
    },
    {
      "slug": "1996-january-get-computer-training",
      "score": 0.319
    },
    {
      "slug": "1997-march-seminars-bootcamps-conferences",
      "score": 0.295
    },
    {
      "slug": "1994-may-new-advanced-seminars-planned-road-shows-launched",
      "score": 0.271
    },
    {
      "slug": "1997-april-get-your-training",
      "score": 0.254
    }
  ],
  "html_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1996-july-bootcamps-fill-up-fast.html",
  "json_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1996-july-bootcamps-fill-up-fast.json"
}