NAREE University Series on Data Reporting Debuts with More to Come

NAREE University Live’s Excel for Journalists Workshop, Part 1 — which ran last Friday, August 26 — was recorded so all NAREE members can access it on demand in the Members Only section of NAREE.org and click on Webinar Recordings. NAREE Members, if you don’t have the password to the Members Only section, please email mdkimball@naree.org.

Part 1 focuses on Sorting and Filtering, including quick ways to sort, great features you can use to filter data, and how to uncover hidden data. How to use a data diary is also a key takeaway, plus there is a link to the Google Sheets Function List and much more in this workshop with Charles Minshew of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Charles, the Digital Storytelling Editor at the AJC, worked previously as the director of data services for Investigative Reporters and Editors, (IRE).  

NAREE President Eileen McEleney Woods, the Sunday Real Estate Editor at The Boston Globe, helped create this workshop series.  

"Being able to analyze data is essential for journalists and industry leaders now more than ever, as data analytics spearheads initiatives, informs understanding of key issues, and serves as a valuable source of story ideas," Eileen said. "I have been using Excel for years, but this class revealed how much I do not know. Charles gave me so many tricks and tips, including how to reveal information the organization that sent the data is trying to hide! I'm excited to see what Part II will bring."

Eileen moderated the workshop.

Part 2 will focus on how to clean your data to get it into the best shape for analysis, which is especially important when gathering information from different sources, plus how to compute percentage change. Part 2 will run, Friday, September 16, at 3 PM EST on Zoom. Click here to register for Excel Part 2, if you didn’t already register for Part 1.

Part 3 will be a recorded, in-person workshop at NAREE’s Atlanta Conference on Friday, October 14, at 8 AM EST. NAREE’s full conference runs Oct. 11-14. Click here for conference registration details. Part 3 of the Excel Workshop will focus on how to analyze your data with pivot tables and use visualization tools. NAREE expects to post Part 3 in the Members Only section of NAREE.org by November 1.

Email NAREE Executive Director Mary Doyle-Kimball at mdkimball@naree.org to get your password to the Members Only Section of NAREE.org.

Many thanks to Charles, Eileen, and NAREE Vice President Jason Hidalgo of the Reno Gazette-Journal, 2022 NAREE University Dean, for bringing these workshops to NAREE members to help them do their jobs better and faster.