We say "aggregate" because much of our work would also appear within cbc.ca news stories; we know that's where the audience clicks most.
Every chart and dataset won't break news, but a key part of the Data Desk's job will be finding original stories in the numbers, that can be told and talked about on all platforms.
For audio, we could imagine a variety of formats, depending on the story.
- Radio talk/tape (for local, or network)
We describe what we found, and bring in other voices to help understand what it means. For example, in Vancouver recently we analyzed more than 6000 records on how dog owners were getting ticketed, and Lisa Johnson told that story on The Early Edition with tape from dog owners, a frustrated park user, and a city official. - Audio factoid (for syndication)
We create a short audio package describing the key results in an engaging way. Morning shows can use this to start a conversation, localizing the national statistics with perspectives from people in their city. The story on food prices would work well for this — the data are national but affect communities differently. - Mapping voices (for online)
We create a map using data, and gather voices. The map could capture what happened in a few key hours (e.g. Stanley Cup riot) or several years (Where are gas stations turning into gardens? Where are pedestrians getting hit by cars?). We'd humanize the data with audio from people affected. The audio could also be used on radio, but would live first online.
At times, we can also crowdsource and map information from the audience, such as reports of storm damage.
In our current roles, we are all active on Twitter and regularly use social media to gather voices and get input from the audience on the stories we cover. We'd bring that expertise to the Data Desk.
But precisely...what do you want to do?
We think the best way to develop data journalism on CBC.ca would be with a regional pilot. A pilot would let us experiment to build capacity and find best-practices.
Mapping can also become more relevant and revealing at a local level. Rather than a census map that goes city-by-city, the Montreal Gazette and Global News were able to see the story block-by-block.
We'd still make use of data relevant to a national audience; certainly consumer items like our food price example would interest people across the country. And we'd hope to spark original stories that will get national airplay.
Vancouver is the right place to do it because we already have a popular website, a strong web team, and managers that see the potential of a Data Desk.
What does success look like?
The first step would be getting more data and interactives online, and learning which inexpensive or free tools fit best with our site to make that happen. The number each week would depend on the complexity of the story and treatment—obviously a talk/tape for The Current takes longer to produce than a factoid.
We'd want to aim for at least one chart or map a week that would get people linking and talking.
If that seems like too low a goal: consider how much collective knowledge CBC has about putting a guest on radio. By contrast, there are maybe a handful of journalists across the entire network who know how to put a database online.
There will be a learning curve, and that's why this should be piloted.
In the longer term, success would mean data projects that get nominated for journalism awards, and helping increase traffic to CBC.ca.
Whether or not the end result is an ongoing Data Desk would depend on many factors; perhaps piloting this will show us a dedicated team is the best way to do it. Certainly that's how several other news organizations are finding success now.
It's also possible that data journalism will become a part of every reporter's job. That's a win too—piloting this would build capacity for that to happen across the network.
