Mo Krochmal's Digital Dashboard/Site Matrix

What reporters should do?

• Keep copy numbers-free
  
• Keep number of digits in a paragraph below 8
  
• Round off -- a lot
  
• Memorize common numbers on a beat
  
• Use devices/metaphors from everyday life
  
• Learn to think in ratios
  
• Learn from one another
  

Estimating Crowds

• Beware of the official estimate (on both sides)
  
• A better method:
  1) Estimate the are in square feet (length X width)
  2) Divide by:
  
• 10 - for a loose crowd
  
• 7.5 - for a tighter crowd
  Try to account for turnover
  

Statistics

• Percent Change Robert Niles
  
• Statistics Every Writer Should Know
  

• @ Future of Journalism: Adrian Holovaty's vision for data-friendly journalists
  

• Too Much Information? Critics Decry Sites That Mine Public Data
  
• Databases Tutorial
  

• Power Reporting sample data files
  
• A Journalist's Database of Databases by Drew Sullivan
  
• Public Data Sets From Amazon
  
• Automated Tracking of Web/Social Net Data
  

• Showcase of Student Personal Annual Reports
  

• Widgenie Data Visualization and Widgets (Online service)
  

• Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
  
• Financial Statistics
  
• Real Estate Statistics
  
• Surveys (Vizzual forms)
  
• NationMaster.com
  
• Test your Math Skills from IRE