How do I get the best job I ever had again?
June 11, 2015 10:40 AM Subscribe
Careers in data journalism?
About a year ago, I was hired by local news station to develop interactive graphics and infographics for the web. Turns out, there was a massive amount of data compilation, aggregation and research needed that I didn't expect. I've been pulling all this info, pitching stories, and making pretty charts and pictures ever since. I love it, and am really good at it.
Well, the station was sold, and massive layoffs ensued. I now work for the parent company doing CMS and basic web stuff. It's seriously beneath my skill levels.
I can get another job. I'm not worried about that. But I would really like to further pursue information journalism. I've applied to a couple major names, but would like some input from anybody with related experience or knowledge. I was really hoping this last job would be my last job, but I fear that's not the case.
Any suggestions?
About a year ago, I was hired by local news station to develop interactive graphics and infographics for the web. Turns out, there was a massive amount of data compilation, aggregation and research needed that I didn't expect. I've been pulling all this info, pitching stories, and making pretty charts and pictures ever since. I love it, and am really good at it.
Well, the station was sold, and massive layoffs ensued. I now work for the parent company doing CMS and basic web stuff. It's seriously beneath my skill levels.
I can get another job. I'm not worried about that. But I would really like to further pursue information journalism. I've applied to a couple major names, but would like some input from anybody with related experience or knowledge. I was really hoping this last job would be my last job, but I fear that's not the case.
Any suggestions?
Best answer: The good news is it's probably about as hot a specialty in journalism as there is right now. That doesn't mean jobs are falling from the sky, but they are around.
My suggestion would be to poke around at IRE.org — that's Investigative Reporters and Editors. There's a job board there, and lots of other info.
They run two annual conferences: One is the IRE conference, which is more general, and one is the CAR conference, Computer Assisted Reporting. Both have lots of resources for folks interested in data journalism.
(Also you should know that unless you land at a fairly large organization, odds are high you'll still be doing some amount of the CMS and basic web stuff — given that it's a relatively new field, I think most places still (even if only informally) require a degree of flexibility and willingness to be "the web person").
posted by brentajones at 11:05 AM on June 11, 2015 [4 favorites]
My suggestion would be to poke around at IRE.org — that's Investigative Reporters and Editors. There's a job board there, and lots of other info.
They run two annual conferences: One is the IRE conference, which is more general, and one is the CAR conference, Computer Assisted Reporting. Both have lots of resources for folks interested in data journalism.
(Also you should know that unless you land at a fairly large organization, odds are high you'll still be doing some amount of the CMS and basic web stuff — given that it's a relatively new field, I think most places still (even if only informally) require a degree of flexibility and willingness to be "the web person").
posted by brentajones at 11:05 AM on June 11, 2015 [4 favorites]
I don't have any specific company names for you, but on the subject of data visualization, etc., I subscribe to the Data Elixir weekly newsletter, which is packed chock full of interesting news and resources about data science. You might find some ideas in there.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 1:38 PM on June 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by hapax_legomenon at 1:38 PM on June 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
Approach other stations and be willing to travel. Make a reel.
posted by parmanparman at 1:47 PM on June 11, 2015
posted by parmanparman at 1:47 PM on June 11, 2015
You're not in San Francisco so this may not be useful to you but the San Francisco Chronicle is looking for a data journalist at the moment.
http://chj.tbe.taleo.net/chj05/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=TRD&cws=1&rid=1731
posted by Bella Donna at 9:15 PM on June 11, 2015
http://chj.tbe.taleo.net/chj05/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=TRD&cws=1&rid=1731
posted by Bella Donna at 9:15 PM on June 11, 2015
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Buzzfeed is the next frontier of journalism, and they have top of the line data analytics
posted by pando11 at 11:00 AM on June 11, 2015