Maintaining CAR on duct-tape budgets

Small newsrooms can access Computer Assisted Reporting (CAR) resources through in-house staff, local professionals, universities, and online guides to improve their reporting capabilities on limited budgets.

The following are big resources for small newsrooms to overcome snags and boost skills.

In-house resources:

Techies: Computer services staff at your organization can help overcome problems or handle nine-track tapes. Bring them donuts. Bean counters: Accountants on your business department are probably proficient with spreadsheets. Also, they might have a spare copy of Excel hanging around. Marketing: Marketing/advertising might use mapping software for developing demographic reports for readership studies and advertisers. MapInfo is popular in the business world but can work in newsrooms. ArcView is what government tends to use.

Out-house resources:

Pros: Local computer experts are sometimes willing to help program or crunch data, often for free. Or consider giving them credit in the story. Universities: Take courses at universities or community colleges. Not only do you learn, but as a student you can get substantial discounts on software.

Online guides

Here are some places online to learn about CAR, use the Internet and get story ideas:

CARguides: http://www.poynter.org/carlchome.htm. A guide tapping into online information by Nora Paul of the Poynter Institute. Includes introduction into CAR and explanations of resources. Deadline Online: http://www.deadlineonline.com. A great breakdown for finding facts, people and sources. By Alan Schlein, who also provides specialized Internet training for journalists. Reporter's Desktop: http://www.seanet.com/-duffl. Compilation of search engines, people finders and other resources for finding information on deadline. By Duff Wilson, investigative reporter at The Seattle Times. CAR/CARR: http://www.ryerson.ca/-dtudor/carcarr.htm. A list of links to CAR sites and other useful places to check out. By Dean Tudor, journalism professor at Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto, Canada. The Beat Page: http://reporter.org/beat/ Internet links and CAR resources grouped by beat, from agriculture to transportation. Complied by Shawn McIntosh of The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss. WWW Virtual Library: http://www.cais.com/makulow/jexercises.html. Many CAR resources by John Makulowich, including Internet exercises for journalists, Internet tips and links to journalism organization. Hosted by The Writers Alliance Inc. CARwash: http://www.wnpa.com/carwash/carhome.html. CAR stories done in Washington state, primarily by small newspapers, posted in full text. By David Cuillier, Tri-City Herald. David Cuillier can be reached at (509) 582-1535 or by e-mail at dcuillier@aol.com