It’s been niggling me since the result was announced, but there were other things to do, so it took me a few days to sit down and scratch this itch. The headline is simple. Older voters defeated the Scottish independence referendum, as illustrated by this graph breaking down voter intentions. But data journalism can be… Continue reading What’s wrong with this graph?
Tag: journalism
Back to the future
From the New York Times and Washington Post comes news of yet another attempt to Fix Comments. Everyone wants to engage with audience, trouble is the results end up costing as many readers as they attract. But why are the comments so horrible? I’d argue a large part of the problem is it’s because every… Continue reading Back to the future
Pressure Points
I posted this graph in yesterday’s 200 Words. I created it as a clearer version of Simon McGarr’s “Scandal Timeline”, below. Journalists have criticised the graph, pointing out the story in response to which it was created — Tuam mass graves — was broken by the Daily Mail (and earlier, the Connacht Tribune). They have… Continue reading Pressure Points
Serious Stories
While following the Tuam mass graves scandal, over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been working on some programme proposals for the Sound+Vision and Mary Raftery Journalism Fund. The former are the light entertainment features, the latter is a bit more serious. And although both deadlines are approaching fast, I’ve been devoting more time and… Continue reading Serious Stories
When are bloggers media?
I attended an event today to mark World Press Freedom day, as a result of which I’m posing the audio below. The first speech is by Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ Deputy Director-General and Managing Director of News & Current Affairs, on the particular challenges facing broadcasting. It is followed by a speech by John Horgan, Press… Continue reading When are bloggers media?
Below the Line
Everyday, in every newspaper, editors go through correspondence from readers and pick the best for publication. Done well, a letters page gives a feel for public opinion, for which stories are striking a chord, and which arguments are winning. Put another way, user generated content is nothing new. Yet online, its has become almost an… Continue reading Below the Line
Sources: A glossary
In the interests of full disclosure, 200 Words is pleased to provide this guide to journalistic terms of art, to better assist readers in navigating media reports relying on information of uncertain origin. Sources: Pretty much anyone I talk to. Informed sources: Anyone who listened to that Morning Ireland interview I missed. Reliable sources: She… Continue reading Sources: A glossary
The decline and fall
News papers are in trouble, and it isn’t hard to see why. The figures published today by Independent News and Media (INM) tell their own story. The group puts a brave face on it, citing a 12% rise in online advertising revenue to €9.3m, and pointing to debt restructuring, but there’s a deeper problem. Sales… Continue reading The decline and fall
Freelance Forum is back
It’s Spring, and so the thoughts of freelance journalists old and new turn to the Freelance Forum. What do you, mean you haven’t thought about it yet? The Forum is a one-day event, now held twice yearly, providing freelance journalists (and aspiring student journalists) with information to better do their jobs. Brought to you by… Continue reading Freelance Forum is back
From Panti to Garth
200+ I was contacted by a student a few days ago, asking for my reaction to the statement that the media was overwhelmingly dominated by a narrow middle class perspective. This was my initial reply, which also riffed on the PantiBliss debate. I know some journalists who are predictably middle class. I know others who… Continue reading From Panti to Garth