Computer-Assisted Reporting Newsletter, 1990–2007
A journalist discovers evidence of mass racial cleansings in America through census records showing black populations mysteriously disappearing from counties between 1890-1930, unc…
Paul Overberg analyzes the challenges and evolution of the American Community Survey's national data release.
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey faced funding challenges but is likely to replace the long form of the 2010 Census.
Florida Today used GIS to identify thousands of residents in hurricane-prone areas who were eligible for evacuation assistance but had not signed up for the program.
The Charlotte Observer used a detailed suspension database to uncover significant racial disparities and a high frequency of repeat suspensions in local schools.
The Charlotte Observer's analysis of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data revealed that black borrowers receive high-interest loans at four times the rate of white borrowers, promptin…
A journalist uses GIS mapping and Census data to quantify racial segregation in Greensboro, North Carolina, revealing that the city is divided almost perfectly in half by race, wit…
A journalist analyzed Pentagon casualty data to reveal that South Carolina and other small, rural states had disproportionately high Iraq War death rates compared to their populati…
While the presidential election is over, David Herzog emphasizes that journalists should continue using databases to investigate political power and voter registration issues throu…
Dateline NBC investigated racial disparities in traffic stops by analyzing millions of records and using internal benchmarks to identify patterns of suspicion.
An investigation into the high death rates of children at the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon, using state databases.
Computer-assisted reporting is being used by journalists to investigate election-related issues, including analysis of Florida's voter purge practices and local politicians' voting…
An investigation into voting rights violations in Teaneck, New Jersey, revealing racially polarized voting patterns and the potential for federal intervention.
Dave Moore explores the racial imbalance in juvenile arrests in Columbia, Mo., finding that African American youths are disproportionately arrested compared to their white counterp…
Ron Shawgo explains how to use Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data and the IPUMS website to analyze population migration and education trends.
A bibliography of past Uplink articles detailing how journalists used Census data to report on race, poverty, and geography.
Paul Overberg explains the power of Census Summary File 4 for profiling 336 distinct racial and ethnic groups, highlighting reporting examples and methodological constraints like s…
Reporters from the Chicago Tribune discuss their strategy of using U.S. Census Bureau data to investigate human-interest stories regarding the middle class.
The San Diego Union-Tribune used IRS migration data to report on residents leaving the region for cheaper housing in the West, illustrating how journalists can track population mov…
A journalist describes her experience updating a 1990 analysis of Maryland's highest-paid public employees, detailing her challenges obtaining salary data through public informatio…
The San Antonio Express-News analyzed traffic stop data, finding that black drivers were three times as likely to be searched as white drivers despite similar contraband find rates…
The article examines the complexities and various methodologies researchers use to measure residential segregation in American metropolitan areas.
Census reporters face challenges when Census tract boundaries shift over time, making historical comparisons difficult. The article explains how to use the Census Bureau's tract-to…
The article outlines how to use computer-assisted reporting to track and analyze deportations by nationality post 9/11.
Journalists can use the Churches And Church Membership In The United States survey, conducted every 10 years by religious organizations, to analyze religious demographics and membe…
The SBA Disaster Loans and 7(a) business loan databases contain hundreds of thousands of records showing which small businesses received federal loans for disaster recovery and gen…
A Tribune-Review investigation using surveying and GIS analysis revealed that Allegheny County's jury selection process systematically underrepresents Black residents, with Black p…
Journalists across the U.S. are using GIS mapping technology with Census Bureau data to uncover demographic patterns, including language barriers, poverty pockets, and commuting di…
The U.S. Census Bureau released Summary File 3 data in August and September 2000, containing detailed demographic information from the 2000 Census that journalists are using to inv…
IRE and NICAR are offering three workshops led by Paul Overberg and Steve Doig to teach journalists how to analyze Census data and develop stories using resources like the American…
The article warns that SF3 census data on school enrollment comes from a sample survey with imputed values and significant error margins, particularly for smaller geographic areas,…
Paul Overberg explains how journalists can use the Census 2000 Summary File 3 to research school enrollment trends, private school popularity, and neighborhood demographics.
An Oklahoma newspaper analyzes 2000 census data to explore racial segregation patterns, finding that school district boundaries may be a primary driver of residential segregation, …
A smaller newspaper's approach to efficiently covering Census data releases through advance planning, dummy databases, and pre-written story templates, allowing them to compete wit…
Journalists covering census data between 1990 and 2000 must navigate new multiracial categories and measurement challenges by identifying clear trends rather than claiming scientif…
A reporter at the Akron Beacon Journal used computer-assisted reporting and data analysis to investigate why one school cluster dramatically underperformed others, challenging assu…
Journalists discuss using PL94 census data to identify neighborhoods with unusually high concentrations of children, with tips on verifying findings and where to expect such demogr…
A collection of online census coverage from major regional newspapers across the United States, providing local reporting and analysis on census data and its impact on communities.
NICAR invites journalists to share their experiences and lessons learned from working with PL94 Census Data released in March, either through written submissions or staff interview…
A journalist describes how extensive preparation, including data processing systems and pre-planned story angles, enabled his newsroom to execute comprehensive 2000 Census coverage…
The Census 2000 data release presents increasing complexity for journalists using computer-assisted reporting, with upcoming Summary File 1 containing vastly more variables and det…
Instructions for subscribing to Census-L, a listserv focused on census topics and mapping discussions.
The Associated Press conducted a comprehensive study comparing quality of life metrics on Indian reservations with and without casinos during the 1990s, finding that welfare partic…
The article examines the growth of the American Indian gambling industry and investigates state lottery misconduct, revealing that despite gambling revenues increasing dramatically…
A journalist explains how to build historical census data archives for local newspapers, providing practical tips for accessing demographic information from past decades through li…
The article discusses the complexities in comparing racial data from the 1990 and 2000 Census due to changes allowing multiracial categories, and solutions to overcome these issues…
Despite a significant reform effort by New Jersey's child protection agency, children are spending more time in foster care. The article explores the state's lack of progress again…
The IRE Resource Center provides several investigative journalism stories examining racial profiling by police departments, including traffic stops in Seattle, profiling practices …
Journalists investigating racial discrimination in traffic stops must carefully account for multiple confounding variables including the racial demographics of highway users, diffe…
The Detroit Free Press investigated racial profiling in suburban police departments by manually collecting and analyzing 3,000 traffic tickets from Harper Woods, Michigan, finding …
A Louisville news organization investigated whether police were disproportionately stopping African-American drivers by matching police dispatch records with handwritten dispatcher…
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune investigates whether Minneapolis police use racial profiling. The report analyzes booking, jail, and sentencing data to determine if more black suspect…
A journalist describes lessons learned from a NICAR computer-assisted reporting boot camp while analyzing city employee salary data for a pay equity story, emphasizing the importan…
Guide to journalism mailing lists including NICAR-L for computer-assisted reporting, JAGIS-L for geographic information systems, and CENSUS-L for census-related discussions, with s…
Guide for journalists on accessing and using Census 2000 data through shapefiles and TIGER files, with resources for downloading geographic data from the Census Bureau and ESRI.
The article discusses the importance of using GIS software to map U.S. Census data, highlighting the advantages GIS provides for creating detailed demographic maps effortlessly as …
Fifteen years after an investigation into racial disparities in Long Island's property taxes, Newsday revisits the topic, finding persistent systemic issues. A shift to market valu…
The Pioneer Press analyzed nonprofit arts organizations' finances in the Twin Cities, finding they experienced significant financial growth during the 1990s. Newsday's investigatio…
IRE and NICAR are hosting a series of two-day workshops on working with Census data, with the first scheduled for Arizona in April, followed by sessions in Missouri and Maryland, c…
IRE and NICAR are planning Census 2000 data workshops with expert trainers Steve Doig and Paul Overberg, with dates and locations to be announced soon.
A glossary explaining key Census Bureau terms and procedures, including non-response follow-up methods, accuracy measurement techniques, and local outreach strategies used during t…
A Mercury News analysis of Silicon Valley's wealth distribution reveals economic paradoxes: while roughly 1 in 9 Santa Clara County households are millionaires, most residents aren…
The 2000 Census introduces significant methodological changes in how race and ethnicity are measured, making it crucial for journalists to understand these differences when reporti…
Uplink's next issue will feature stories on analyzing Census 2000 race classifications, applying computer-assisted reporting to religion coverage, and teaching CAR techniques in ac…
Journalists and statistical experts discuss how to properly interpret Census Bureau income and poverty data, including the correct confidence levels for state-level estimates and t…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's investigation revealed that a Georgia town disproportionately targeted African-Americans for traffic tickets on a single road, generating $860,00…
A six-month data analysis by The Courier-Journal exposed widespread gender discrimination in Kentucky and Indiana high school sports, forcing new state compliance measures.
A Newsday investigation reveals significant racial disparities in healthcare outcomes between Black and white patients in the New York region, with Black patients receiving less ef…
The author argues for annual census counts instead of the current decade-long gap, highlighting how outdated census data makes local demographic reporting inaccurate and forces jou…
County population estimates provide valuable demographic breakdowns including age groups, births, deaths, and migration patterns that can fuel reporting on aging populations, immig…
Census data offers journalists multiple storytelling angles, from annual population updates to trend analysis comparing demographic patterns across geographic and socioeconomic lin…
Census data can be leveraged for both quick news stories and long-term investigative projects by combining population estimates with other datasets to reveal trends and disparities…
This guide helps journalists use the Census Bureau's website to find statistical data for reporting, explaining key resources like news releases, expert contacts, and major data fi…
A preparatory guide for journalists to get ready for analyzing data from the 2000 Decennial Census, emphasizing the need to develop spreadsheet and mathematical skills before the d…
This article discusses the uncertainty and political battles surrounding the preparation for Census 2000, focusing on the controversy over using sampling in the census count. It hi…
George Rodrigue provides investigative journalism tips for covering public housing, using his own investigation of racial segregation in East Texas public housing as an example. He…
A reporter used data analysis to uncover that Hispanic and Native American students had the largest representation gap compared to educators, rather than Black students as initiall…
An analysis revealed that Cincinnati's public schools are struggling to retain middle-income families, leading to a disproportionate number of low-income students in public schools…
The article provides practical methods for journalists to conduct meaningful investigative stories in limited time on topics like education achievement gaps, population trends, and…
The San Jose Mercury News applied the USA Today Index of Ethnic Diversity to analyze population changes in their region, using a probability-based formula to measure how diverse di…
The article highlights free government data sources from the 1990s that provide demographic information at the county level, including population estimates, migration patterns, and…
A college journalist used computerized police records, mortgage data, and census information to debunk persistent negative stereotypes about Lincoln's Malone neighborhood, revealin…
The Census Bureau is a valuable ongoing source of data for journalists beyond its decennial headcount, offering accessible information on demographics, housing, business, and socia…
J.J. Thompson explores income inequality using the Gini coefficient to analyze income data, showing the growing gap between different economic classes.
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune used HMDA data to investigate racial disparities in home lending, debunking bank claims of improved performance. The study showed that despite aggressiv…
A journalism resource guide explaining challenges in accessing international data electronically and recommending key U.S. government sources including the Census Bureau, State Dep…
Aaron Elstein describes using FoxPro to analyze Illinois state workforce reports, uncovering racial disparities in government hiring and management.
The Asbury Park Press investigated banking discrimination in New Jersey by analyzing branch locations against commercial business data, finding that minority communities had signif…
The Wall Street Journal obtained complete EEOC employment data through multiple FOIA requests, revealing that Black workers experienced unique job losses during the 1990-91 recessi…
The U.S. Census Bureau is planning to replace its mainframe systems with Digital Equipment Corporation VAX minicomputers by 1996 in preparation for the 2000 census, while also expl…
The Akron Beacon Journal completed a year-long investigation examining racial disparities across multiple dimensions including crime, race relations, living conditions, health, edu…
A Wall Street Journal investigation of EEOC employment data from over 40 million workers revealed that Black workers were the only ethnic group to suffer net job losses during the …
The Observer analyzed North Carolina's 1990 census data alongside precinct-level election results to demonstrate that George Bush's support declined more sharply in urban and subur…
A San Jose Mercury News computer-assisted analysis of nearly 700,000 California criminal cases over nine years found that white defendants receive significantly better plea bargain…
A News & Record reader survey ranks perceived sinful behaviors, with premarital sex deemed most immoral at 84% and church attendance ranked lowest at 40%.
The Greensboro News & Record conducted a survey on perceptions of sin in the Bible Belt community using computer-assisted reporting, highlighting the integration of modern technolo…
Gary Post-Tribune reporter Joseph Conn used a GEO District computer program and a state librarian's assistance to quickly analyze census data and determine how many residents would…
The San Jose Mercury News responds to criticism in UPLINK's March issue, defending their superior coverage of California census data with more detailed statistics and faster report…
The San Francisco Chronicle achieved detailed reports on the 1990 census data through advanced preparation and computer-assisted techniques, despite unexpected challenges.
The Census Bureau hosted a media seminar at the University of Missouri School of Journalism covering how journalists use census data, including presentations on data trends, produc…
The Missouri Institute of Computer-Assisted Reporting and the U.S. Census Bureau are hosting a one-day seminar on April 15, 1991 at the University of Missouri-Columbia to teach rep…