No, it is not “All about story.”

1. Natal WitnessPietermaritzburg, South Africa5 September 2006 No, it is not“All about story.” Prof. Tom JohnsonInstitute for Analytic JournalismSanta Fe, New Mexico USAt o m @ j t j o h n s o n . c o m

2. Natal WitnessDurban, South Africa5 September 2006 Andor&or+ Prof. Tom JohnsonInstitute for Analytic JournalismSanta Fe, New Mexico USAt o m @ j t j o h n s o n . c o m

3. Journalism is… “The central purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society.'‘—Bill KovachCommittee of Concerned Journalists ______________________

4. What journalists do The job of journalists is "to monitor the centres of power."Israeli journalistAmira Hass ______________________

5. Today’s objectives • Discuss journalism (and journalists) as a species existing in the Datasphere • Review the changes in the information environment • Suggest steps journalism can (Should? Must?) take to adapt to those changes if we are to survive • Suggest the possible disappearance of the species journalist serioso ______________________

6. The New Datasphere extends the Old • Most canons of journalism stand fast (Though there are some new issues for ethics and law) • The challenge today is not the old, but the addition of the new ______________________

7. Species in Biosphere: Latent Energy Metabolism Energy Out In Changing Datasphere: • Journalists, et al., in Datasphere ______________________

8. Basic Information Theory =Process of Journalism Info Data In Analysis Out This is a headline DATELINE -- And the traditional text story starts here and goes on and on and on. Interviews Text docs Clips Pictures Infographics ______________________

9. 1st Era = Communications Revolution? 2nd Era =SymbolsPrintPaperInkWriting ______________________

10. “100% de la Población SufreProblemas de Salud Mental” ______________________

11. Challenge of Digital Revolution 100% de la Poblacion Sufre Problemas de Salud Mental 010100100100100110101101 101011101010101010101010 010101010101010100111010 ______________________

12. 1st Era = Communications Revolution? 2nd Era =SymbolsPrintPaperInkWriting 3rd Era = 101010101101010101000100101 ______________________

13. Changing Datasphere • Data and “data appliances:” Smaller, lighter, faster, cheaper and greater capacity • 1956: First hard drive. 5mgb. 50 24-inch platters. 2,150 pounds the size of a refrigerator. • Cost: US$10,000 per megabyte or $10m per gigabyte. Today: one 3.5” HD has a gigabyte for <50 cents. ______________________

14. Changing Datasphere • In 50 years, areal density of HDs increased by 50 MILLION times • Expect to see 1-inch terabyte drives in 10 years • 1991 - First 2.5-inch HD for laptops held 63mgb. • Today – 2.5-inch HD holds 160gbyte and is 60 times as shock-resistant • Moore’s Law. Yes, but…. ______________________

15. Major Changes for Industry/Journalism educ. • Data/information in digital form: requires new tools, analytic skills, delivery methods • Network TV news dead; Newspapers (in much of Europe and U.S.) are comatose ______________________

16. Major Changes for Industry • Become data/information driven in decision-making • Get out of the newsPAPER or broadcasting business; get into NEWS and DATA/Information biz • Deliver content however consumers want it whenever and wherever they want it • Leverage journalism’s data and skills to customize data/info. for users ______________________

17. Role of news institutions • Must become the HUB for “transactions” between individuals and the data they need, want, seek: • Intellectual transactions • Cultural transactions • Economic transactions • Political transactions ______________________

18. Database Publishing - Data In Online Print Text Images Infographics Video Audio Reporter’s DAT “Amateur” News Agencies Dynamic db Dynamic maps Streaming A/V Reporter’s DAT “Amateur” News Agencies Data Warehouse Data Warehouse ______________________

19. Database Publishing-Info Out Video Audio TBA PDA/Cellphone Print Data Warehouse Data Warehouse ______________________

20. Data Resources needing users Economic Culural Occupational Entertainment Users with data needs Economic Cultural Occupational Entertainment “Hub” model of journalism Journalism Institution: 3 uniquevalues ______________________

21. “Hub” model of journalism Resources needing users Economic Cultural Occupational Entertainment Users with needs Economic Cultural Occupational Entertainment How to do this? See “data” as a renewable/reusable resource To survive means to learn. Constantly It’s about “teams,” knowledge management, coordination Journalism institution Fred Kockott, 2006 Journalist of the Year: “It’s not a one-man business …This work of the sub-editors, photographers, graphic designers and others is often not recognized.” (Librarians?) ______________________

22. I-o-P storage, analysis and communication Linear intake of data as TEXT Primitive analytic tools Only literary skills needed and highly regarded 100% of our work was qualitative: text or static images Classic Journalism Information Environment Journalism: The first refuge of the mathematically phobic! ______________________

23. I-o-P storage, analysis and communication Linear intake of data as TEXT Primitive analytic tools Only literary skills needed and highly regarded 100% of our work qualitative -- text or static images Throw away total work product every 24 hours Classic Journalism Information Environment ______________________

24. Changing Datasphere • As storage medium changes from I-o-P to 1's and 0's… • ...we need functional technology between the data/info and our brain. • Requires new awareness/skills for RRAW-P (Research, Reporting, Analysis, Writing-Packaging model) • Adopt new literacy to survive, NOT as old-style hunters-and-gathers but new era interpreters and explainers. • Some of us move from data fishermen to data farmers to support the community ______________________

25. Reporting Analysis Writing Publishing-Producing- Packaging RRAW-P Process of Journalism • Research DEADLINE! ______________________

26. Research Process, and Emphasis, of Classic Journalism: RRAW-P Writing- Publishing, Producing, Packaging The focus of… Journalism education On-the-job training Mid-career training Most graduate studies Reporting Analysis ______________________

27. Research Process - and Emphasis - of Digital-Age Journalism Must be – somewhere, some how – the focus of… Journalism education On-the-job training Mid-career training Most graduate studies Research Reporting Analysis Reporting Analysis ______________________

28. I-o-P storage, analysis and communication Linear intake of data as TEXT Primitive analytic tools Only literary skills needed and highly regarded 100% of our work qualitative -- text or static images Classic Journalism Information Environment ______________________

29. Traditional Data In Interviews Text docs Clips Pictures Infographics 100% of story I-o-P vs.. Digital Environment ______________________

30. Digital DATA IN Interviews Text docs Scholarly articles Archival content Pictures Infographics Sound/Video Dynamic maps Database publshg I-o-P vs. Digital Environment • Ink-on-paper = <50% of story • Digital data = >50% of story ______________________

31. Major Changes for Media Production • “Data In” is qualitative AND quantitative • “Info Out” must be qualitative and quantitative ______________________

32. Major Changes for Datasphere Newsroom • Journalists must be able to work like good social scientists and good poets • Literally put information specialists (aka: librarians) in center of space and process • Implement team -- conceptual or skills -- approach ______________________

33. Survival in the Datasphere • All analysis and eventual stories have three conceptual aspects: Content? Methods/Process? Analytic Tools? ______________________

34. Intellectual Navigation Qualitative Locate Data Acquire Analyze Quantitative Locate Data Acquire Analyze STORY! ______________________

35. New skills for journalists Just as an opening hand…. • Sophisticated online research • Analytic and visual statistics • Spreadsheets • Database creation and analysis • Geographic Information Systems • Social Network Analysis • Forensic Accounting/Performance Measurement ______________________

36. Significance for Journalism • Learn to think in multiple dimensions: non-local & non-traditional sources; depth of sourcing; raw data; dynamic online "data“ (i.e non-documents) • Need greater analytic skills, e.g. quantification, mapping • Greater degrees of specialization in newsroom (GA reporter may be a dying intellectual breed in 5-10 years. Declining status?) ______________________

37. Natal WitnessPietermaritzburg, South Africa5 September 2006 No, it is not“All about story.” It’s about AND, &and+ Prof. Tom JohnsonInstitute for Analytic JournalismSanta Fe, New Mexico USAt o m @ j t j o h n s o n . c o m