{
  "id": "1998-november-quick-hits-and-the-long-term",
  "slug": "1998-november-quick-hits-and-the-long-term",
  "url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1998-november-quick-hits-and-the-long-term.html",
  "year": 1998,
  "month": "November",
  "monthNum": 11,
  "headline": "Quick hits and the long term",
  "kicker": "",
  "author_name": "Jeff South",
  "author_title": "reporter",
  "affiliation": "Austin American-Statesman",
  "summary": "Census data offers journalists multiple storytelling angles, from annual population updates to trend analysis comparing demographic patterns across geographic and socioeconomic lines. Beyond the Census Bureau, numerous public sources and human contacts can provide demographic data for investigations.",
  "keywords": [
    "census",
    "demographics",
    "data"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Demographics & Census",
    "Data & Databases",
    "Investigative Methods"
  ],
  "technologies": [
    "Internet",
    "World Wide Web",
    "CD-ROM"
  ],
  "full_text": "From quick-hit dailies to long-term projects, census data can be used in various ways:\n\n• Every year, the bureau updates population estimates for states, counties and metropolitan areas. These updates are fodder for breaking news and trend pieces.\n\n• The 1990 census and updated estimates are especially valuable when combined with other data, such as the number of crimes, gun permits, pawn shops, supermarkets, public swimming pools, billboards – you name it. Use census data to compute rates, like zoning violations per 1,000 people in different parts of your city. Then use the census to see if the rates are different between low-income and high-income areas or between predominantly minority and predominantly white areas.\n\n• The bureau produces such reference materials as the Statistical Abstract of the United States, the County and City Data Book and USA Counties. These materials include data ranging from health care to the cost of living.\n\n• The bureau continually cranks out studies and statistical briefs that spotlight trends.\n\n• Beyond demographics, the Census Bureau tracks rental housing vacancies, government spending, business development and other trends.\n\nOther demographic data\n\nThe Census Bureau is by no means the only source of demographic data on the Internet. The bureau's page has links to other sites, like the University of Missouri http://www.oseda.missouri.edu, census data at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory http://www.lib.berkeley.edu.GSSI/uc_cdrom.html and the Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network http://www.ciesin.org. Also, check you state government's Web page, as well as sites operated by publications like American Demographics http://www.demographics.com, which often posts the data used in its articles.\n\nDevelop human sources, too – not just at the Census Bureau but at its regional office nearest you, and at your state data center. The centers, usually affiliated with a state government agency or university, help distribute and analyze census information. You can find a list of the centers at http://www.census.gov/ftp/pub/sdc/www/\n\nIf you need inspiration for census stories, read Who We Are: A portrait of America based on the latest U.S. Census. This 1993 book, by Sam Roberts of The New York Times, shows how to put a face on census data.\n\nSouth's handout, #495 in the Resource Center, was provided when he was with the Austin American-Statesman.",
  "provenance": {
    "extracted_by": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "extracted_at": "2026-07-05",
    "verified": true
  },
  "similar": [
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      "slug": "1998-november-census-resources",
      "score": 0.464
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  "html_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1998-november-quick-hits-and-the-long-term.html",
  "json_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1998-november-quick-hits-and-the-long-term.json"
}