Data Library tackles specialty data jobs
The IRE and NICAR Database Library has looked at every block group in the United States and every speeding ticket in Cleveland. Those are just two of the processing or data analysis jobs the Database Library has completed during the past few months.
Under contract with The Associated Press, NICAR downloaded Census 2000 Summary File 3 data files, transformed the raw text files into dBASE IV files and added some geographic elements to every table. NICAR's work for the AP began in March 2001, when the redistricting Census data became available and continued through the Summary File 1 and the SF3 releases.
NICAR analyzed a year's worth of speeding ticket data from the state of Ohio and the city of Cleveland. For WEWS-Cleveland, we discovered the most likely places to get a ticket, found the officers who wrote the most, and discovered how much faster than the speed limit a driver can go before getting a ticket.
Transcripts of the stories can be found at www.newsnet5.com/theinvestigator1781686/detail.html and www.newsnet5.com/theinvestigator/1784946/detail.html
For a nominal cost, the Database Library can conduct data analysis and transfer data from tape to CD for news organizations. For more information, call 573-884-7711.
Contact Jeff Porter by e-mail at jeff@nicar.org.