Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Fighting for Data:Journalists and Access to Public Records
Ira Chinoy
Philip Merrill College of JournalismUniversity of Maryland
“Watchdog journalism”
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
Data as news …
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
Data as news …
… not on the Web
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
Data as news …
… not on the Web
Obstacles
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
Data as news …
… not on the Web
Obstacles
Daily drama, chilling effect
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
Data as news …
… not on the Web
Obstacles
Daily drama, chilling effect
The takeaway: A challenge to the HCI community
Computer-assisted reporting
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS
NAME DATE OF BIRTH EMPLOYER
NAME DATE OF BIRTH INFRACTION
NAME DATE OF BIRTH EMPLOYER
NAME DATE OF BIRTH INFRACTION
CNS stories using databases of public records:
Consumer complaintsPrison violence
Boating safety enforcementTrain accidents
Amusement ridesSubprime loans
Unsolved homicidesLeaking underground oil storage tanks
Campaign financeLawyer discipline
Federal: Freedom of Information Act
Maryland (at the state, county, and local levels):
Public Information Act
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.
We don't know how to do that.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We don't think you'll understand the data / technology, you'll mess it up.
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.
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.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland CaseWe don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
Format
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
Format
Cost
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
Format
Cost
Time
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
Format
Cost
Time
Luck
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
Format
Cost
Time
Luck
Data and a story
We don't know how to do that.
The fear factor …
The fear factor …
… a continuum
Other factors …Administrators, public information officers, and attorneys
with inadequate training, experience, and support for handling database requests.
An agency culture in which requests for records are treated as an intrusion.
Inadequate budgeting to deal with public records requests.
Limited repercussions for the “just say no” approach to requests.
Tactics …Information has context. Finding out about it first can
help you understand what data they keep, why they keep it, how they keep it.
Ask to speak directly to the staff who manage the database. Avoid second-hand exchanges of
information.
Know the law.
Look for common ground.
Explore the logic – and illogic – of baffling excuses.
Understand the fears … and address them.
Strategy …
Are there alternatives to case-by-case battles,
well upstream of them?
Policies already require:
Environmental Impact Statements
Fiscal Notes
Set-Aside Programs & Diversity Checklists
How about:
Public Records Assessments or
Information Impact Statements
A challenge and an opportunity
for interdisciplinary research,
policy development,
and new tools
Ira Chinoy
Philip Merrill College of JournalismUniversity of Maryland
http://bit.ly/Ira_Chinoy
