[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-571496-105":53,"doc-detail-571496-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","data-journalism-for-beginners-learn-the-basics","Data journalism for beginners - learn the basics","","Data journalism for beginners explains how to build a “document state of mind” when working with public records. It encourages readers to treat documents as databases, assume records are public and free, and use data to uncover basic facts, evaluate government procedures and promises, and publish enterprise reporting that others miss. It also highlights translating data-driven stories to online platforms and outlines where to find searchable datasets and downloadable government information.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":51,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/general/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/data-journalism-for-beginners-learn-the-basics/571496/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/data-journalism-for-beginners-learn-the-basics/571496.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"SANS","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-20","2026-10-13",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":76},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What mindset should beginners develop for data journalism?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"Beginners should adopt a “document state of mind,” making it a habit to ask government officials for records. Treat documents as databases and assume records are public and free.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How can data be used in journalism according to the guide?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Data can uncover basic information through lookups, test government procedures, regulations, and officials’ promises, and support enterprise reporting with stories others are not doing.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"Where can beginners find searchable data online?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"The guide points to government sources like FedStats, Data.gov, USASpending.gov, OSHA statistics, EPA environment searches, and other federal agency databases listed in the document.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},571496,1792040712,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":50,"category_name":51,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":76,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":47,"language":135,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":139,"read_time":73},962090760505,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","Data journalism for beginners  \nJaimi Dowdell, IREONA 2010  \nWHY DATA?  \nIf you’re going to get involved with data journalism, you have to develop a document state of mind. Get into the habit of asking government officials for records.  \n􀂉 Assume it’s public.  \n􀂉 Assume it’s free.  \n􀂉 Documents = databases.  \nMore and more, records are kept electronically. Being able to understand and analyze these records generally helps make for better journalism. Data can be used to:  \n􀂉 Uncover basic information. (Simple lookups)  \n􀂉 Test government procedures, regulations and officials’ promises.  \n􀂉 Enterprise reporting – do stories that no one else is doing.  \nIn addition, journalism with data elements translates incredibly well to online platforms. Some datadriven stories are best told through interactive graphs and other online tools.  \nHere are some quick examples of how newsrooms are displaying data and data-based stories online:  \n􀂉 ESPN – What’s lurking in your stadium food  \n􀂉 The Washington Post – Hidden Life of Guns  \n􀂉 Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Flip Fraud  \n􀂉 CBS4-Miami – Interactive day care inspections map  \n􀂉 [DesMoinesRegister.com](DesMoinesRegister.com) – Find local people  \nFIGURE OUT WHAT THEY HAVE  \n􀂉 Ask for the document and/or data retention schedule. (Ex: Missouri)  \n􀂉 FOIA – Open records logs  \n􀂉 State and federal statutes  \n􀂉 Appendix and footnotes to audits and reports  \no  Inspectors General  \no  State auditors  \no  GAO reports (Government Accountability Office)  \no Canada – Auditor general  \nDON’T IGNORE ONLINE TIPS THAT DATA EXIST  \n􀂉 Major Information Systems – request a list from government agency: example US Marshall’s list here.  \n􀂉 Something in a “chart” format may mean that a database exists: example California West Nile Virus here.  \n􀂉 Online forms to submit information: example Wisconsin Insurance Complaint form here.  \nFINDING DATA ONLINE  \nSearchable data  \nA lot of data is already available online; you just need to know where to look. Here is a list of places you can go, right now, to find searchable databases from government agencies:  \n􀂉 FedStats – Statistics from government agencies-[www.fedstats.gov/](www.fedstats.gov/)  \n􀂉 [Data.gov](Data.gov) – “The purpose of Data.gov is to increase public access to high value, machine readable datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.” – [www.data.gov](www.data.gov)  \n􀂉 [USASpending.gov](USASpending.gov) – Search and download federal contracts, grants and more[www.usaspending.gov/](www.usaspending.gov/)  \n􀂉 BRB Publications has a free directory of public records sites  \n[www.brbpub.com/freeresources/pubrecsites.aspx?h=1](www.brbpub.com/freeresources/pubrecsites.aspx?h=1)  \n􀂉 OSHA – workplace safety data-[www.osha.gov/oshstats/index.html](www.osha.gov/oshstats/index.html)  \n􀂉 Fatal Accident Reporting System data (FARS) -www[fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/QueryTool/QuerySection/SelectYear.aspx](fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/QueryTool/QuerySection/SelectYear.aspx)  \n􀂉 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) -[www.msha.gov/drs/drshome.htm](www.msha.gov/drs/drshome.htm)  \n􀂉 Federal Railroad Administration  \n[safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/publicsite/query/query.aspx](safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/publicsite/query/query.aspx)  \n􀂉 National Agricultural Statistics Service  \n[www.nass.usda.gov/Data_and_Statistics/Quick_Stats/index.asp](www.nass.usda.gov/Data_and_Statistics/Quick_Stats/index.asp)  \n􀂉 Census-American FactFinder quick profiles of states, counties, etc. -[factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en](factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en)  \n􀂉 EPA Environment data searches-[www.epa.gov/epahome/commsearch.htm](www.epa.gov/epahome/commsearch.htm)  \n􀂉 FAA data (service difficulty reports, on-time data, aircraft registry, etc. ) -[www.faa.gov/data_research/](www.faa.gov/data_research/)  \no Service Difficulty [Reports-](Reports-av-info.faa.gov/sdrx/)[av-info.faa.gov/sdrx/](Reports-av-info.faa.gov/sdrx/)  \no On-time [","cbCaioLSrFEwNOhQ","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaioLSrFEwNOhQ","pdf",761090,"English","# WHY DATA?\n## Finding data online\n## Downloadable data","[{\"question\":\"What mindset should beginners develop for data journalism?\",\"answer\":\"Beginners should adopt a “document state of mind,” making it a habit to ask government officials for records. Treat documents as databases and assume records are public and free.\"},{\"question\":\"How can data be used in journalism according to the guide?\",\"answer\":\"Data can uncover basic information through lookups, test government procedures, regulations, and officials’ promises, and support enterprise reporting with stories others are not doing.\"},{\"question\":\"Where can beginners find searchable data online?\",\"answer\":\"The guide points to government sources like FedStats, Data.gov, USASpending.gov, OSHA statistics, EPA environment searches, and other federal agency databases listed in the document.\"}]","Data journalism for beginners - learn the basics | PDF",1791920531]