{
  "id": "1996-september-we-did-it-our-way",
  "slug": "1996-september-we-did-it-our-way",
  "url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1996-september-we-did-it-our-way.html",
  "year": 1996,
  "month": "September",
  "monthNum": 9,
  "headline": "We did it our way",
  "kicker": "Newsrooms share CAR models",
  "author_name": "Angie Gaddy",
  "author_title": "NICAR staff",
  "affiliation": "NICAR",
  "summary": "This article explores different newsroom models for implementing computer-assisted reporting at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Boston Globe, Baltimore Sun, and Seattle Times.",
  "keywords": [
    "newsroom models",
    "database editor",
    "CAR training"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Investigative Methods",
    "Journalism & Newsroom",
    "Technology"
  ],
  "technologies": [
    "FoxPro",
    "Paradox",
    "Quattro Pro",
    "Access",
    "Pentium",
    "PC",
    "9-track tape",
    "CD-ROM",
    "Excel",
    "Atex",
    "Internet"
  ],
  "full_text": "Who does your data? That's what a lot of CAR newbies want to know from those using CAR in the newsroom. Whether run by a database editor, the library staff or a computer-savvy reporter, newspapers are structuring a CAR hierarchy. Four large dailies share their CAR models: It's been almost seven years since CAR began at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. At first, CAR was used in fits and starts, but in the past two years, a new push led by CAR director Bill Loving has gathered momentum. Loving's goal is to have more than a dozen reporters skilled and using CAR on a semi-regular basis by the end of 1996. Loving is accomplishing this goal by training and coaching the paper's newsroom staff of 350, half of whom are reporters. He has trained at least 100 reporters to use the Internet in his own workshops and plans to set up workshops for tackling database managers. He has sent six staffers to NICAR bootcamps. Loving has a CAR center in the newsroom equipped with two computers, including a Pentium and a 86PC, a nine-track tape reader, a zip drive and some external hard drives. He plans to get a scanner and CD-ROM writer. CAR reporters build queries using FoxPro, Paradox and Quatro Pro, but most stick to Access' query by example to build their own searches. While Loving waits for reporters to build skills, he is focusing on acquiring databases. Loving acquires databases on nine-track tapes, via FTP, CD-ROMs and diskettes. Most of the databases are stored on CD-ROM in the library. He is just starting to put databases on the newspapers network server. 'We've made strides in the last year,' he says. 'We have an enthusiastic backing from the managing editor and executive editor. That's an absolute necessity.' One way to incorporate CAR into the newsroom is by using an internal newsroom homepage, says Boston Globe computer-assisted reporter David Armstrong. The page - maintained by Matt Carroll, a part-time database editor, and by the paper's information services department is accessible only in the newsroom, from the reporter's homes and from bureaus. It is loaded on newsroom Pentium PCs, which are all equipped with CD-ROM drives. While the paper converts its newsroom Atex system to PCs, a process that is half-finished, reporters can access the Internet and the paper's databases at two computers at a public station in the newsroom. Eventually, all reporters will have a PC at their desks linked to the paper's internal homepage. Reporters can search databases of Massachusetts Motor Vehicle registration and driver's licenses; campaign contributions; and state, city and university system employees. The site also links to other homepages and newsroom chat groups. To make the system easier to use, there are front ends for accessing both the Internet and databases. Front ends are user-friendly interfaces that allow reporters to fill in templates, rather than build their own queries to maneuver around databases or the 'Net. Armstrong says there's no push for a nine-track tape reader in the newsroom because he can download databases more simply and with fewer data errors through FTP. Now that more data comes on diskettes or CD-ROMS, nine-track tape readers, which are clumsier, are going by the wayside in data transfer. Access is loaded on all PCs, but most Globe CAR reporters prefer FoxPro. Excel is the most popular software program for those doing CAR-approximately 12 reporters use spreadsheets for stories. The paper has brought in NICAR twice for training and has an in-house trainer from information services to help reporters. Carroll works one day a week updating databases, acquiring data, answering reporters' questions about data and working on queries with reporters. 'It's not an ideal situation, because on the other four days a week he's unavailable to reporters working with him. It's a handicap,' Armstrong says. Armstrong, who is lobbying for a full-time database editor, says what the paper needs is 'almost a cheerleader' in the newsroom, who encourages and sells the idea to reporters. With his desk equipped with a Pentium 90 with 1.6 gigs and DELL behind him, Mike Himowitz is literally situated between the newsroom and the library. His job as electronic news editor at The Baltimore Sun bridges library research with newsroom reporting. Since CAR is just starting at the paper, Himowitz says the paper does not have a CAR model. Its's evolving, and Himowitz is discovering what works and what doesn't at his paper. What works is creating front ends, or templates linked to database queries, to the paper's databases. Although it would make his job easier if reporters learned more CAR skills, his front ends makes it easier for reporters to find information without running to him with every question. 'Reporters don't have to become mavens (at CAR),' he says. 'Some disagree. Some want to make reporters computer-attack dogs, but you can't expect every reporter to do it. Most will learn the skills that apply to their particular beat.' Reporters only need to type in the name or address they are looking for in the Baltimore city property tax records database, or the school name or county in the Maryland school scores database. They can access the databases, all stored on a server linked to the PCs, at a computer station outside of the newsroom library, equipped with four Pentium 90s, all with CD-ROM drives and hooked to the Internet. One computer is hooked to a scanner and an Overland nine-track tape reader. There are two ends to CAR, Himowitz says: One is using it as an investigative tool. The other is using it to gather research for reporters. 'We will see more response when more stories come out,' he says. 'The big payoff hasn't come just yet.' Overseeing five news researchers, Tom Boyer began as database editor at the Seattle Times six months ago. The researchers look for news services, acquire new databases, coach, train and do higher end CAR work. Boyer's job is to coach researchers and reporters in CAR techniques, 'as well as be 'stopper' on technical issues that no one else can deal with.' Networked Pentiums are scattered across the Atex system newsroom, all loaded with Excel and running on a TCP/IP network so the research staff can build World Wide Web front ends. The 'hard-core' CAR computer is in the library. The paper's information systems department runs nine-track tape downloads, and they hire a local computer-consulting company to handle tougher tape downloads. Boyer says they are buying a high-end database server, most likely an MS SQL server, to handle large files. Presently, reporters come to researchers for help. But Boyer adds, 'We do not search the Times database for staffers generally. If they need help, we schedule them for training.' As the Globe and the Sun have done, Boyer plans to set up a front end so reporters can run their own database queries. And, as at the Globe, Boyer has created an internal Web site with a file of 3,000 source names, Times text archives and front ends to public records databases. 'We have to handle the basics first and organize things properly before Ican really start CAR work in earnest,' Boyer says. After that, he plans to start training reporters and editors on query techniques. 'But ultimately, it's not the responsibility of the database editor to make good CAR stories happen,' he says. 'If we're going to do this right, CAR has to come organically out of the work of the beat reporter.'",
  "provenance": {
    "extracted_by": "pre-v2",
    "extracted_at": "",
    "verified": true
  },
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  "html_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1996-september-we-did-it-our-way.html",
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}