1. Data as News: Journalists’ Experiences in Seeking and Using Databases of Public Records Ira Chinoy Philip Merrill College of Journalism University of Maryland

2. How journalists use databases of public records
The language of databases
Elements of data requests
Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective
Core issues
Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?

3. How journalists use databases of public records
The language of databases
Elements of data requests
Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective
Core issues
Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?

4. How journalists use databases of public records
The language of databases
Elements of data requests
Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective
Core issues
Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?

5. How journalists use databases of public records
The language of databases
Elements of data requests
Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective
Core issues
Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?

6. How journalists use databases of public records
The language of databases
Elements of data requests
Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective
Core issues
Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?

7. How journalists use databases of public records
The language of databases
Elements of data requests
Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective
Core issues
Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?

21. CNS stories using databases of public records:
Consumer complaints
Prison violence
Boating safety enforcement
Train accidents
Amusement rides
Subprime loans
Unsolved homicides
Leaking underground oil storage tanks
Campaign finance
Lawyer discipline

24. “relational database”
Terms:
“database”
“relational database”
“tables”
“records”
“fields”
“codes”
“queries”
“joins”

34. Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation
Format
Redaction
News purpose
Waiver
Fees

35. Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation
Format
Redaction
News purpose
Waiver
Fees

39. Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation
Format
Redaction
News purpose
Waiver
Fees

42. Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation
Format
Redaction
News purpose
Waiver
Fees

47. Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation
Format
Redaction
News purpose
Waiver
Fees

48. “comma-delimited text”
Database and spreadsheet programs have their own unique file types (.xls, .mdb…).
But data can easily be moved between one file type and another by exporting and importing it in standard formats:
“dbase” (.dbf)
“comma-delimited text”
“fixed-length text”

50. Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation
Format
Redaction
News purpose
Waiver
Fees

51. Generally, when copying a database, copying ALL DATA is LESS WORK
than copying SOME DATA
In other words, providing all records in the database is less work than limiting the request to one or a few years

52. Making requests Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation
Format
Redaction
News purpose
Waiver
Fees

53. Copying and redacting fields from a database with 1,000 records
is the same amount of work
as copying and redacting fields
from the same database
with 100,000 records

63. We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that.
We don't know how to do that.
We've never done that before.

64. We don't know how to do that.
We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that.

65. We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that.
It takes too long.

66. It costs too much money for us to do it.
We don't know how to do that.
We don't know how to do that.
We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that.
It takes too long.
It costs too much money for us to do it.

67. There are confidential records mixed in.
We don't know how to do that.
We don't know how to do that.
We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that.
It takes too long.
It costs too much money for us to do it.
There are confidential records mixed in.

68. We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that.
It takes too long.
It costs too much money for us to do it.
There are confidential records mixed in.
We don't think you'll understand the data / technology, you'll mess it up.

69. We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that.
It takes too long.
It costs too much money for us to do it.
There are confidential records mixed in.
We don't think you'll understand the data / technology, you'll mess it up.
We'd love to give it to you but it violates our contract with the software company.

70. A Maryland Case Documentation Fields Format Cost Time Waiver
We don't know how to do that.
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
Format
Cost
Time
Waiver
Fresh set of eyes
Data and a story

71. Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.”
We don't know how to do that.
We don't know how to do that.
Education, training, experience, support.
“Show me.”
Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests?
What is in the public interest?

72. Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.”
We don't know how to do that.
We don't know how to do that.
Education, training, experience, support.
“Show me.”
Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests?
What is in the public interest?

73. Certainly, many databases are complex 
But many are not.

74. Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.”
We don't know how to do that.
We don't know how to do that.
Education, training, experience, support.
“Show me.”
Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests?
What is in the public interest?

75. Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.”
We don't know how to do that.
We don't know how to do that.
Education, training, experience, support.
“Show me.”
Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests?
What is in the public interest?

76. Are there alternatives to
case-by-case battles?

77. at the broad policy level?
Are there solutions
at the broad policy level?

78. Policies already require: Environmental Impact Statements Fiscal Notes
Set-Aside Programs & Diversity Checklists
How about:
Public Records Assessments or
Information Impact Statements

79. A challenge and an opportunity . . .

80. Ira Chinoy Philip Merrill College of Journalism University of Maryland

89. Additional Slides