Nick McMillan Joins ProPublica as Senior Computational Journalist

ProPublica Bolsters Investigative Team Wiht New Computational Journalist

Washington D.C. – ProPublica has announced the appointment of Nick McMillan as a Computational Journalist, strengthening its Data and News Apps team. McMillan’s arrival signals a continued investment in technology-driven journalism, poised to uncover stories often hidden from public view.

Leveraging Technology for In-Depth Reporting

Nick McMillan will be responsible for utilizing advanced technologies and data analysis techniques to identify and report on crucial issues. His role is designed to unlock reporting opportunities previously inaccessible due to their complexity or data intensity. This reflects a growing trend in journalism, were computational skills are becoming increasingly vital for impactful investigations.

Ken Schwencke, Senior Editor for Data and News Applications, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment. He highlighted McMillan’s proven ability to harness cutting-edge technology for impactful storytelling and his potential to enhance propublica’s accountability reporting efforts.

From NPR to ProPublica: A Track Record of Impact

Prior to joining ProPublica, McMillan served as a Data Journalist on the investigations team at NPR.During his tenure at NPR, he distinguished himself by merging traditional journalism with complex data analysis. He developed innovative tools to translate complex data into compelling evidence for investigations.

A notable accomplishment at NPR involved the development of a custom Optical Character Recognition (OCR) program. This technology processed over 7,000 government work task files, ultimately revealing a concerning pattern of a federal program eliminating thousands of wild animals with limited oversight. The findings sparked public debate regarding wildlife management policies.

Furthermore, McMillan co-reported a story exposing how Southern California Edison power lines ignited new fires while firefighters were already battling existing blazes. He achieved this by creating a system that processed and transcribed more than 2,000 hours of first responder radio communications into searchable,time-stamped timelines.Before NPR, McMillan honed his skills in investigative documentaries at Newsy, contributing to reports on extremist groups within the U.S. military and the lasting consequences of Hurricane Maria on schoolchildren in Puerto Rico. The documentary on white supremacists received widespread attention.

Recognition and Future Contributions

McMillan’s work has been nationally recognized, earning him both a National Press Award and an Edward R. Murrow Award. He brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to impactful journalism to his new role.

“ProPublica is a pioneer in applying data and computational methods to uncover abuses of power,” mcmillan stated. “I am thrilled to contribute to the team and dedicated to investigations that serve the public interest.”

Role	Organization	Key Skills
Computational Journalist	ProPublica	Data Analysis, Technology Integration, Investigative Reporting
data Journalist	NPR	Data Analysis, OCR Development, Timeline Creation
Investigative Documentary Contributor	Newsy	Investigative Research, Visual storytelling

The Rise of Computational Journalism

Computational journalism, also known as data journalism, is a growing field that combines the skills of investigative reporters with data analysis, programming, and statistical modeling. According to a 2023 report by the Tow Center for Digital journalism at Columbia University, more than 80% of news organizations now employ journalists with data analysis skills, up from just 40% in 2015. This trend underscores the increasing importance of data-driven investigations in holding power accountable.

Did you Know? Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology can convert images of text into machine-readable text, enabling faster and more efficient data analysis.

Pro Tip: When evaluating data sources, always consider the potential biases and limitations of the data.

Frequently Asked Questions about Computational Journalism

• What is computational journalism? It’s the practise of using data analysis and computer science techniques to find and tell news stories.
• Why is data journalism crucial? It allows journalists to uncover patterns and insights that would be impossible to find through traditional reporting methods.
• What skills are needed to become a data journalist? Key skills include data analysis, programming, statistical modeling, and investigative reporting.
• How does OCR contribute to data journalism? OCR technology converts images of text into searchable data, making it easier to analyse large volumes of documents.
• What are some ethical considerations in data journalism? It’s crucial to ensure data accuracy, protect privacy, and avoid misinterpreting data.

What role do you believe technology will play in the future of investigative journalism? What kind of stories do you hope to see uncovered through data-driven reporting?

How will Nick McMillan’s expertise in machine learning adn data mining enhance ProPublica’s investigative reporting capabilities?

Expanding ProPublica’s Data Journalism Capabilities

ProPublica, the renowned independent, non-profit investigative journalism association, has announced the appointment of Nick McMillan as its new Senior Computational Journalist. This strategic hire signals a significant investment in data-driven reporting and strengthens ProPublica’s commitment to uncovering impactful stories through advanced analytical techniques. McMillan’s expertise in computational journalism, data analysis, and investigative reporting will be instrumental in furthering propublica’s mission.

McMillan’s Background and Expertise

Nick McMillan brings a wealth of experience to ProPublica.He’s a recognized leader in the field of data journalism, having previously worked on projects involving large datasets, machine learning, and data visualization. His skillset encompasses:

* Data Mining & Scraping: Proficient in extracting data from diverse sources, including APIs, web pages, and databases.

* Statistical Analysis: A strong understanding of statistical methods for identifying trends and patterns in data.

* Programming Languages: Expertise in Python, R, and SQL – essential tools for computational journalism.

* Data Visualization: Ability to create compelling and informative visualizations to communicate complex data insights.

* machine Learning: Experience applying machine learning algorithms to uncover hidden patterns and predict future outcomes.

His previous work has focused on areas like financial transparency, political accountability, and social justice – aligning perfectly with ProPublica’s core areas of inquiry.He’s known for his ability to translate complex data into accessible narratives, making impactful journalism available to a wider audience.

The Role of Computational Journalism at propublica

ProPublica has long been at the forefront of utilizing technology to enhance its investigative work. Computational journalism isn’t simply about using computers; it’s about fundamentally changing how journalism is done.Here’s how McMillan’s role will contribute:

1. Automated Storytelling: Identifying and automating the reporting of routine but critically important stories, freeing up journalists to focus on more complex investigations.
2. Large-Scale Data Analysis: Analyzing massive datasets to uncover patterns and anomalies that would be impossible to detect manually. This includes areas like open data, public records, and government datasets.
3. Verification & Fact-Checking: developing tools and techniques to automatically verify details and combat misinformation.
4. Interactive Data Experiences: Creating interactive visualizations and tools that allow readers to explore data themselves, fostering greater transparency and engagement.
5. Predictive Modeling: Utilizing data to forecast potential issues and proactively investigate areas of concern.

Benefits of Investing in Computational Journalism

The rise of data-driven journalism offers numerous benefits:

* Increased Accuracy: Data analysis reduces reliance on anecdotal evidence and subjective interpretations.

* Greater Efficiency: Automation streamlines the reporting process, allowing journalists to cover more ground.

* Uncovering Hidden Stories: Data analysis can reveal patterns and connections that would or else remain hidden.

* Enhanced Transparency: Making data publicly available empowers citizens and promotes accountability.

* Improved storytelling: Data visualizations and interactive tools can make complex stories more engaging and accessible.

propublica’s Commitment to Innovation

This appointment underscores ProPublica’s dedication to innovation in journalism. By embracing digital journalism techniques and investing in talent like Nick McMillan, ProPublica is positioning itself to continue producing groundbreaking investigative reports that hold power accountable and inform the public. The organization’s focus on non-profit journalism allows it to prioritize public service over profit, fostering a unique habitat for impactful, data-driven reporting.

Relevant Keywords & Search Terms

* Computational Journalism

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* ProPublica

* nick McMillan

* Data-Driven journalism

* Digital Journalism

* Non-Profit Journalism

* Open Data

* Public Records

* Government datasets

* Data Visualization

* Machine Learning

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* Python

* R

* SQL