I apologize in advance — this post is really just some links that I came across that have to do with the media, the “data-fication” of journalism, and community. Maybe when I have more time I will try to find the connections that pull these things together, but until then I will just present them as they are, in part to help myself remember and think about them:<\/p>\n
— The Los Angeles Times has a “data desk,” which includes links to all of their data-driven projects (link via Kottke.org, who found it via Ben Fry’s blog<\/a>, who got it from Casey<\/a>). Some interesting stuff in there, including a database of fatalities<\/a> from a train crash in September, along with personal information about the deceased, and a list of L.A.’s dirtiest pools<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n — Eric Ulken, who used to be involved in data\/journalism projects at the L.A. Times, including the Homicide Map<\/a> (inspired by Adrian Holovaty’s ChicagoCrime.org<\/a>), and has taken some time off to travel the world and write about<\/a> the evolution of journalism, wrote up some lessons<\/a> from the Homicide Map project that are well worth reading. They include:<\/p>\n — on the community side, BusinessWeek magazine has a feature I’m planning to \n
steal<\/strike> pay homage to called “In Your Face,” in which they profile<\/a> some of their most intelligent or newsworthy commenters on the site. The mag is now asking readers to vote on a T-shirt design that will be used<\/a> for shirts featured commenters will get as gifts. This is all kinds of smart. (I found out about the feature via a Twitter message<\/a> from BW’s online editor John Byrne)<\/p>\n