Uplink regularly features articles that provide tips from journalists about using Census data. It also highlights stories that have used Census data analysis as a key element in the reporting. Here are some recent articles: "Ticket data shows search rate gaps." Karisa King of the San Antonio Express-News recounts how she used city police traffic-stop and Census data to uncover disparities in search rates by race.
(May-June 2003). "Mapping the Census" shows how journalists used geographic information system software to map Census data and discover patterns in poverty levels, non-English speaking areas and commutes. (November-December 2002). "Children: tracking quality of life." Dave Davis of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer explains how he used Census data along with Ohio health and environmental data to reveal how Cleveland children are living in worse conditions than other areas in Ohio and other major cities nationwide.
(September-October 2003). "Using Census files to link 1990 and 2000 geography." Dan Keating of The Washington Post explains one way to deal with Census geography shifts using tract-to-tract relationship files. Keating provides step-by-step guidance. (March-April 2003). "Segregation in black, white, shades of gray." Holly Hacker of IRE and NICAR offers advice on using Census data to measure segregation and explore the racial make-up of cities, counties and other geographic areas.
(May-June 2003). "Plotting race by population." In the "Mapping It Out" feature, Uplink illustrates three journalists' stories that use Census data and GIS to map patterns of blacks and whites, looking for segregation and migration changes. (May-June 2002). "Covering income, commuting with SF3." Jeff Porter, director of the IRE and NICAR Database Library, provides a guide to the Summary File 3 release from the 2000 Census and highlights some stories that used the data.
(November-December 2002). Compiled by Megan Clarke, IRE and NICAR Database Library.