The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and its lesser siblings is the big U.S. news story of the year. As journalists document how evacuees are settling into nearly every corner of the United States, it is easy to see how the ripple effects of this devastating storm will generate local news stories in the years to come. Here are five key areas that journalists using computer-assisted reporting can focus on: 1.
The resettlement. Journalists will want to examine how the resettlement affects schools, social services, housing, employment and the economy in their towns. 2. Racial inequity. New Orleans residents left behind were disproportionately African-American; data can show if minorities in other areas are similarly at risk. 3. FEMA's failures. Journalists can use FEMA's data to show if aid was wasted on people who suffered no losses locally.
4. Coastal safety. Use data to report on population growth versus the erosion of natural safeguards like wetlands. 5. The reconstruction. Federal spending, loan programs, and property databases can track the flow of billions of dollars.