{
  "id": "1997-february-nashcar-97",
  "slug": "1997-february-nashcar-97",
  "url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1997-february-nashcar-97.html",
  "year": 1997,
  "month": "February",
  "monthNum": 2,
  "headline": "NashCAR '97",
  "kicker": "The National Computer-Assisted Reporting Conference",
  "author_name": "",
  "author_title": "",
  "affiliation": "",
  "summary": "NashCAR '97 is a national conference in Nashville offering over 50 training sessions on computer-assisted reporting techniques, including hands-on classes in spreadsheets, databases, mapping, and web design for journalists of all skill levels.",
  "keywords": [
    "conference",
    "training",
    "journalism"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Journalism & Newsroom",
    "Technology",
    "Investigative Methods"
  ],
  "technologies": [
    "spreadsheet",
    "9-track tape",
    "World Wide Web",
    "Internet"
  ],
  "full_text": "Learn more than 50 ways to use computers in the newsroom at NashCAR '97, March 6-9 in Nashville, Tenn. This year's National Computer-Assisted Reporting Conference is sponsored by IRE, NICAR and The Tennessean.\n\nBreak-out sessions on special topics will be held in siderooms and speakers will give presentations on problem-solving, software, hardware, and data analysis in a demonstration room. Training will include classes in spreadsheets, database managers, mapping, nine-track tapes, creating World Wide Web pages, and surfing the Internet. We will announce panelists in the coming weeks.\n\nIn addition, there will be up to six hours of hands-on training offered to registrants on a first-come, first-served basis and one-on-one work critiques for the first 50. Hands-on training will include beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes. Here is the tentative program of panels.\n\nPanels marked (B) are for Beginners; (I) for Intermediate; (A) for Advanced; and (E) for everyone.\n\nNashCAR '97 starting line\n\nWEDNESDAY:\n\n6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Early Registration\n\nTHURSDAY: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Registration\n\n9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Welcome and introduction to conference.\n\n10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Panel 1: Finding people and sources with online techniques (B) NORA PAUL, Poynter Institute BROOKE CAIN, News and Observer Panel 2: 50 of the newest CAR stories, for beat and deadline reporters (E) SHAWN MCINTOSH, Dallas Morning News Panel 3: Beginning from the beginning - How to get started. Hardware, software, expectations (B) BILL LOVING, Minneapolis Star-Tribune ANNE SAUL, Gannett Co.\n\n11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.\n\nPanel 1: Getting CAR started in broadcast (B) PAUL ADRIAN, WBNX PHIL WILLIAMS, WKRN CHRIS FORD, WTVT Panel 2: Using spreadsheets to cover local government, budgets and salaries (B,I) WES WILLIAMS, KPNX STEPHANIE REITZ, The Hartford Courant Panel 3: Covering the environment with CAR (I) JAMES BRUGGERS, Contra Costa Times RUSS CLEMINGS, Fresno Bee definite\n\nNoon to 1:30 p.m. Lunch\n\n1:30 to 2:20 p.m.\n\nPanel 1: Making data accessible to the whole newsroom (Intranet, etc.) (A) GEORGE LANDAU, NewsEngin TOM BOYER, The Seattle Times Panel 2: Using Census data to profile your local community (I) PAUL OVERBERG, USA Today JOHN PERRY, The Daily Oklahoman Panel 3: Covering education with CAR (I) LISA GREEN, The Tennessean JOHN BARE, Educational consultant CHRIS SCHMITT, San Jose Mercury News\n\n2:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.\n\nPanel 1: Getting valuable, but free data from the Internet (B, I) NEIL REISNER, The Miami Herald RANDY REDDICK, Facsnet MIKE WEBER, Freelance Panel 2: Strategies for producing CAR stories at smaller news organizations (I) JANET ROBERTS, Wilmington Morning Star DAVID SHEINGOLD, Gannett Westchester GEOFF DOUGHERTY, Bergen Record Panel 3: Covering politics with CAR (it's not just the election) (I) JOE STEPHENS, Kansas City Star ANNA BYRD DAVIS, Commercial Appeal\n\n3:30 p.m. to 4:20 p.m.\n\nPanel 1: Aviation Safety (B,I) BYRON AKAHIDO, Seattle Times BETH MARCHAK, Cleveland Plain Dealer Panel 2: Data nightmares and how to avoid them (I,A) STEVE DOIG, Arizona State University RICHARD MULLINS, University of Missouri - NICAR Panel 3: Covering housing with CAR (I) PENNY LOEB, U.S. News & World Report MIKE HIMOWITZ, Baltimore Sun CAROL NAPOLITANO, Omaha World Herald\n\nFRIDAY:\n\n9 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. Panel 1: Using CAR to cover health issues (I) HAL STRAUS, Atlanta Journal Constitution CHRIS FORD, WTVT Panel 2: Finding and negotiating for data (B,I) JENNIFER LAFLEUR, San Mercury News DAVE ARMSTRONG, Boston Globe Panel 3: Examples of good stories based on use of math and statistical tools (I,A) NEIL BOROWSKI, The Philadelphia Inquirer\n\n10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.\n\nPanel 1: Using CAR to cover transportation (trains, planes and cars) (I) HEATHER NEWMAN, Detroit Free Press PENNY LOEB, U.S. News & World Report Panel 2: Data nightmares and how to clean them up when you can't avoid them (A) GEORGE LANDAU, NewsEngin RICHARD MULLINS, University of Missouri - NICAR Panel 3: Basic math for journalists (B) NEIL BOROWSKI, The Philadelphia Inquirer\n\n11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. Panel 1: Using CAR to cover state government (B,I) TOM LOFTUS, Louisville Courier Journal GRIFF PALMER, Daily Oklahoman KATHY HOFFMAN, Detroit News Panel 2: Managing your data (keep it up to date and accurate) (I,A) ANDY LEHREN, NICAR CHERYL PHILLIPS, Detroit News Panel 3: Using CAR to interpret government statistical reports (A) SARAH COHEN, NICAR\n\nNoon to 1:30 p.m. Lunch\n\n1:30 to 2:20 p.m.\n\nPanel 1: Using CAR to cover federal government (and applying it locally) (B,I) MARK BRAYKOVICH, Cincinnatti Enquirer MIKE BERENS, Columbus Dispatch Panel 2: Search strategies for the Web: quick hits for broadcast journalists (B) MIKE WENDLAND, WDIV-TV NORA PAUL, Poynter Institute MATT REAVY, Louisiana State University Panel 3: Using CAR to interpret business and annual reports (I) WENDELL COCHRAN, American University SARAH COHEN, NICAR\n\n2:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. Panel 1: Using CAR to cover the workplace (I) NATALYA SHULYAKOVSKAYA, St. Louis Post-Dispatch NANCI AMONS, Nashville TV DAVID HERZOG, Providence Journal Panel 2: Making data easy to understand through graphics and visuals (I,A) ROB COVEY, U.S. News & World Report Panel 3: Using CAR to do meaningful and understandable regression analysis (A) PHIL MEYER, University of North Carolina BARB HANSEN, USA Today\n\n3:30 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. Panel 1: Covering city government (I) CAROL NAPOLITANO, Omaha World Herald ROSE CIOTTA, Buffalo News MARGOT WILLIAMS, The Washington Post Panel 2: Great story ideas for broadcasters (B,I) MARK LAGERKVIST, Channel 12 MIKE WENDLAND, WDIV-TV Panel 3: Using CAR for significance tests. Does the info really mean something? (A) PHIL MEYER, University of North Carolina BARB HANSEN, USA Today\n\nSATURDAY:\n\n9 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. Panel 1: Managing CAR-managing the reporter, managing the editor (I) BILL DEDMAN, Associated Press SONNY ALBORADO, Commercial Appeal Panel 2: The latest doings on the Web - Security, new technologies (E) WALLACE WINFREY, NICAR BOB SULLIVAN, Microsoft News DREW SULLIVAN, AP Panel 3: Using CAR to cover business (I) JO CRAVEN, NICAR NAOMI AOKI, Virginian Pilot BOB WARNER, Philadelphia Daily News BILL RUBERRY, Richmond Times Dispatch\n\n10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.\n\nPanel 1: Managing CAR projects (not for managers - for reporters) (E) LAURA FRANK, The Tennessean TOM CURRAN, Newark Star Ledger Panel 2: Putting investigative stories on the Web (I,A) MARK HULL, San Jose Mercury News BRAD GOLDSTEIN, St. Petersburg Times Panel 3: Using CAR to cover sports (I) TOM WITOSKY, Des Moines Register FORD FESSENDEN, Newsday\n\n11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.\n\nPanel 1: Covering social issues with CAR (I) APRIL LYNCH, S.F. Chronicle JIM SPECHT, Gannett News Panel 2: Dealing with FOIA issues, including privatization of public functions (B,I) JENNIFER LAFLEUR, San Jose Mercury News Panel 3: Using CAR to cover federal government (and applying it locally) (B,I) JEFF SOUTH, Austin American-Statesmen MIKE MCGRAW, Kansas City Star DAVID BURNHAM, TRAC\n\nNoon to 1:30 p.m. Lunch\n\n1:30 to 2:20 p.m.\n\nPanel 1: Teaching CAR - new techniques for trainers and academics (I,A) DIANE WEEKS, Washington Post DEBBIE WOLFE, St. Petersburg Times STEPHEN MILLER, New York Times Panel 2: Using CAR for international reporting (I) ROBIN ROWLAND, Ryerson School of Journalism LISE OLSEN, Periodistas des Investagacion JENNIFER LAFLEUR, San Jose Mercury News Panel 3: Covering hospitals (I) RICK LINSK, Asbury Park Press ROBERT BINENCASA, Burlington Free Press TOM GAUMER, Cleveland Plain Dealer\n\n2:30 to 3:20 p.m. Panel 1: Writing and thinking clearly about databases (E) BOB SHERBORNE, Tennessean Panel 2: The latest legalities involving online data (E) DAVID SMALLMAN, Simpson, Thacher BRANT HOUSTON, NICAR Panel 3: Using CAR to cover utilities, technology and cyberspace (I) DAN GILMOOR, San Mercury News MIKE WENDLAND, WDIV-TV\n\n3:30 to 4:20 p.m.\n\nPanel 1: Putting some dazzle in CAR stories - combining writing and graphics (E) CHARLES BLOW, New York Times DAN KEATING, Miami Herald Panel 2: FEC and state campaign finance secrets (E) KENT COOPER, Center for Responsive Politics ANDY LEHREN, NICAR Panel 3: Ideas for matching databases to create new stories (E) ALAN LEVIN, The Hartford Courant\n\n4:30 to 6 p.m.\n\nPanel 1: Creating and analyzing campaign databases DAVID POOLE, Virginia papers SAMANTHA SANCHEZ, Western Coalition Panel 2: Covering social issues with CAR NANCY STANCILL, Charlotte Observer JUDY NICHOLS, Arizona Republic\n\n6 p.m. Supersession: Electronic information: Guidelines for making and keeping it public (Co-sponsored by the First Amendment Center) Speakers to be named\n\nSUNDAY:\n\nThis is a morning of workshops, both in panel rooms and training rooms in the hotel\n\nMain workshops\n\n10 a.m. to Noon\n\nRoom 1: Ethics and computer-assisted reporting WENDELL COCHRAN, American University Room 2: Database editors and news librarians MARGOT WILLIAMS, The Washington Post TOM BOYER, The Seattle Times Room 3: Editors, managers and trainers STEPHEN MILLER, The New York Times Room 4: Special issues for broadcasters PAUL ADRIAN, WBNX Room 5: Tricks of the CAR trade (How to use what you've just learned) NEIL REISNER, The Miami Herald JENNIFER LAFLEUR, San Jose Mercury News SARAH COHEN, NICAR",
  "provenance": {
    "extracted_by": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "extracted_at": "2026-07-05",
    "verified": true
  },
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  "html_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1997-february-nashcar-97.html",
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