Progamming Journalism

Online Journalism Review features a provocative interview with Adrian Holovaty, editor for editorial innovations at washingtonpost.com, perhaps best known for his ground-breaking one-man site chicagocrime.org, "a freely browsable database of crimes in Chicago."  (Typically, we have Jim Romenesko to thank for the link.)

OJR editor Robert Niles opens the interview by asking Holovaty, "how does one "do journalism" through computer programming?"

Holovaty begins by describing a triad of basic tasks performed by journalists:

"1. Gathering information. This involves talking to sources, examining documents, taking photographs, etc. It's reporting.

2. Distilling information. This involves applying editorial judgment to decide what parts of the gathered information are important and relevant.

3. Presenting information. This involves shaping the distilled information into a format that is accessible to the readership. Some examples: writing style (inverted pyramid, etc.), photo color-correction, newspaper page design."

He then envisions a new way of performing these tasks by using one of the key attributes of computer programming:

"Doing journalism through computer programming" is just a different way of accomplishing these goals. Namely, the technique favors automation wherever possible."

What's especially interesting is the way Holovaty sees "reporting" as an activity--"gathering"--carried out by journalists with a range of skill sets, from interviews to taking photographs. Implicit is a rejection of the silo approach that hinders newsroom collaboration. Explicit is his mutual respect for the craft of journalism and the science of programming and the possibilities such a partnership holds out for those willing to embrace both.

Whether you're a programmer, a journalist, an educator or a news manager, the interview is well worth your time. And a bonus is a list of new online news sites that Holovaty admires.

(Photo Credit: Brian Kersey/Associated Press)