IRE and NICAR have several training opportunities for journalists seeking hands-on instruction in using computer-assisted reporting.
There are three weeklong Boot Camps in Columbia, Mo., for journalists who want to learn how to acquire electronic information, use spreadsheets and databases to analyze the information, and to translate that information into high-impact stories. IRE and NICAR provide follow-up help after participants return to their news organizations. The Boot Camps for this year are March 20-25, May 15-20 and Aug. 7-12.
A special mini-Boot Camp designed for editors will be April 8-10 in Columbia. The training, which places an emphasis on what newsroom managers need to know, will include just enough hands-on work to provide an understanding of CAR.
Journalists interested in learning how to map data for news stories can take advantage of a mini-Boot Camp in using geographic information systems (GIS). The training, Aug. 19-21 in Columbia, will use ArcView 9 GIS. Participants will learn how to create basic maps, work with projections and geocode data.
For more information on these and other IRE and NICAR training events see www.ire.org/training/otr.html.