Heritage Foundation Leadership for America

Database 101 CARR Boot Camp Schedule

What to Expect:

A Database 101 Computer-Assisted Research and Reporting Boot Camp at the National Press Club is an intense day in which attendees cover a lot ground. The morning sessions focus on learning and practicing basic Excel spreadsheet skills that can be immediately useful to any journalist or blogger. The afternoon sessions focus on learning where to find useful data on the Internet and leading-edge digital ways to present data.

The Database 101 CARR boot camp isn't comprehensive but we promise attendees two things: First, they will be able to start apply CARR skills in their reporting as soon as they return to their newsroom or blog, and, second, they will have begun to acquire knowledge and skills that can profoundly change their prospects for success in reporting and analyzing the news and public policy in the 21st Century.

Here's the Schedule, Curriculum and Session Goals:

9:30 - 9:45
Welcome and Introduction: Overview of Computer-Assisted Research and Reporting
Mark Tapscott, Editorial Page Editor, The Washington Examiner
Textbook: Computer-Assisted Reporting: A Practical Guide by Brant Houston, Executive Director, Investigative Reporters & Editors

9:45 - 10:20
Session One: Introduction to using Excel in reporting and research
Session Covers: Spreadsheet basics, calculating averages and percentages, using formulas, etc.
Session Goal: Become comfortable in using spreadsheets to analyze data
Instructor: Tapscott
Database: Mayor Campbell Staff Compensation

10:20 - 10:30
Break

10:30 – Noon
Session Two: Using Excel continued
Session Covers: Using sorting, filters, other Excel tools, plus a team application exercise
Session Goal: Building confidence in using Excel
Instructor: Tapscott
Database: Mayor Campbell Staff Compensation

12:00 - 12:45
Lunch Break: National Press Club's Reliable Source restaurant

1:00 - 2:15
Session Three: Where to Find Data on the Web/Correlation
Instructor: Bill Beach, Director
Center for Data Analysis, The Heritage Foundation
Session Covers: Downloading data from web sites, putting data into Excel, understanding basics of correlation
Session Goal: Making effective use of Internet data resources

2:15 - 2:30
Break

2:30 - 3:45
Session Four: Analyzing campaign finance data
Instructor: Sheila Krumholz, Executive Director, or Massie Ritsch, Communications Director, Center for Responsive Politics/OpenSecrets.org
Session Covers: Unlocked campaign finance data, how to access CRP/OS data resources, finding contributions by individuals, groups and industries, pitfalls of campaign data
Session Goal: Gain confidence in using campaign finance data and make maximum use of CRP/OS resources
Databases: CRP/OS Sample Data, Big Bundlers Sample, CRP/OS Data Dictionaries
  
3:45 – 5:00
Session Five: Using Web 2.0 to communicate your data
Instructor: Greg Elin, Chief Data Architect
Sunlight Foundation's Sunlight Lab
Session Covers: Technology is cheap, Data visualization, Data feeds, Mapping Data, Using APIs
Session Goal: Introduce cool data resources and their use
Databases: Multiple
NOTE: Attendees should prepare for this session by creating user accounts at the following:
 • Google: https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount
 • IBM Many Eyes: https://services.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/login
 • Yahoo Pipes: http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/

Course Conclusion: