Polls are common currency in Washington debates, and journalists are the primary referees of which polls pass muster and what stories they tell.
But how do they actually work? What makes a poll reliable, and how can you find out?
Scott Clement of the polling firm Capital Insight and the American Association for Public Opinion Research’s journalist education program will pull the curtain back on modern polling. Topics include the key questions to ask when judging a poll’s legitimacy, the role of new technologies, the role of the Internet and new technologies in polling, and strategies for writing and presenting survey data.
While the talk will cover the basics, be sure to check out the Poynter NewsU and AAPOR’s free self-directed course on Understanding and Interpreting Polls for a complete tutorial.
Schedule
6 p.m. — Doors open
6-6:30 p.m. — Mingling and networking
6:30-7:30 p.m. — Polling presentation
7:30 p.m. — Final networking at a nearby bar (location TBA)
We hope you will join us at The Washington Post auditorium for this event. The $5 entry fee covers your first drink at the bar after the presentation!
See you in April!
— Matt and Tiffany
WANT TO HELP?
Volunteer to work the door, photograph or blog the event by emailing Matt (matt@northwestern.edu). Volunteers receive complimentary entry even if the event sells out.
Have an idea for future ONADC topics, speakers and events? We are always looking for cool suggestions, as well as places to hold meetups. Let us know if you have thoughts about topics or if you want to host!
Do you feel alone? Missing your friendly ONADC pals? Worried we had forgotten you? Don’t you fret. We’re here with a hug and a smile and a plastic cup of sweet sweet wine to get you through the week.
The March meetup will take us back to Medill’s fabulous DC office for a presentation from local startup, ProConIt, a social evaluation platform.
More information to come, but snag your spot now! Do it.
Join us in February at National Geographic for what promises to be an informative evening.
As National Geographic celebrates 125 years of pioneering work, we will hear about how the magazine continues to reinvent itself for digital audiences, with everything from apps that showcase stunning photography to interactive graphics and maps to the overall brand billboard of the homepage.
A small group from National Geographic, led by Creative Director Bill Marr, will walk us through the thinking. And we will learn about how trying new technology has always been part of National Geographic’s unique character.
This event is $5 per person.
Thanks to Kaitlin Yarnall, the magazine’s Deputy Creative Director and ONADC friend, for organizing the program. It should be a lot of fun!
Schedule
6 p.m. — Doors open
6-6:30 p.m. — Mingling and networking
6:30-7:30 p.m. — 10-minute presentations with the creative team, led by Bill Marr and Kaitlin Yarnall
7:30-8:15 p.m. — Final networking and wrap-up
We hope you will come to National Geographic for this exceptional event. The $5 entry fee covers only you; additional guests need to register separately.
See you in February!
— Matt and Tiffany
WANT TO HELP?
Volunteer to work the door, photograph or blog the event by emailing Matt (matt@northwestern.edu). Volunteers receive complimentary entry even if the event sells out.
Have an idea for future ONADC topics, speakers and events? We are always looking for cool suggestions, as well as places to hold meetups. Let us know if you have thoughts about topics or if you want to host!
NOT AN ONA MEMBER YET?
We hope you will consider joining ONA soon. It’s a great organization!
We’ll start the new year with a look at some of The Washington Post’s most interesting digital initiatives that began in 2012 — and some hints at what’s to come in 2013. Designers, editors and others from across the newsroom will present quick, five-minute lightning talks on:
WordPress as a platform
Liveblogging
The Grid – a live events and curation platform
Run – a visual journey through the election
Video strategy and new platforms
Revamping the mobile web
Say What speech video and annotated transcript viewer
Interactives in the Capitol Assets investigation
The $5 entry fee covers only you. If you want a +1, please have that person sign up on her/his own and pay. We have had too many no shows recently and must adhere to this policy (no exceptions). Burned once, ouch. Burned twice, we’re just fire-starters. No one wants that.
You know, when we gather, without an agenda, to socialize in that jolly, holiday sort of way. No set program. No speakers. Maybe impromptu karaoke. You get the picture.
Once again we will be meeting for an open bar (two hours) at the top of Solly’s on U Street. This ONADC event is $5. Your $5 covers your drinks because we have our fingers crossed for a solid sponsor (more details TK and, hey, if it’s really solid, that two hours might get pushed to three).
Best deal in Washington. Hands down.
Not to brag — OK, just a little — but our ONADC group is, at least by our accounting, the hippest, most-happening meetup group around because of all of you. We like you. We really like you.
So, please, come out to celebrate a great year and help us make plans for a rockin’ 2013!
“It’s not just what it looks and feels like. Design is how it works.” — Steve Jobs.
Come hear David Wright, the digital design director for NPR, talk about designing the storytelling experience. Here’s the description of the talk, a hit at this year’s annual ONA conference in San Francisco:
Companies like Apple and IDEO have demonstrated the role that design thinking plays in the creation of revolutionary, game-changing products. Yet even in 2012, news design is experiencing a great stagnation: too often, our products and platforms feel more like 2006. Learn strategies to show how design thinking can actually create efficiencies in a product development process that will always be strapped for time.
Schedule:
6:30—7 p.m.
Drinks, snacks and mingling.
7—7:45 p.m.
Design Is How It Works presentation by David Wright (in the newsroom for maximum capacity)
7:45—8:30 p.m.
Networking and more drinks.
We hope you will come to Medill for what promises to be a cool meetup. The $5 entry fee covers your drinks and food.
See you in November!
— Tiffany and Matt
WANT TO HELP?
Volunteer to work the door, photograph or blog the event by emailing Tiffany and Matt.
Have an idea for future ONADC topics, speakers and events? Let us know!
ONA DC: Knight Lab in D.C.
Join us for a discussion with folks from the Knight Lab at Northwestern University, a group of computer scientists and journalists that experiments, builds and iterates in hopes of inventing tools that will change the way media informs the world.
In its first year, the team has deployed a few exciting prototypes and tools, including: TimelineJS, Local Angle, Local Cirlce, Hashtagger, PrintF, SoundCite. The Lab won an Online Journalism Award this year for its Congressional Primaries project.
Collaboration with real-world organizations is one of the Lab’s hallmarks — if you’ve got an idea (or the start of an idea), the Lab wants to hear from you.
Schedule:
6:30—7 p.m.
Drinks, snacks and mingling.
7—7:45 p.m.
Miranda Mulligan and Ryan Graff from the Knight Lab will discuss projects the Lab has already launched and the Lab’s ambition for doing more work with news organizations in the coming year. As always, there will be time for your questions.
7:45—8:30 p.m.
Networking and more drinks.
We hope you will come to Medill for what promises to be a cool discussion. The $5 entry fee covers your drinks and food. ONADC volunteers will be in the lobby to help you enter the building and provide directions. The newsroom is on the seventh floor.
See you in October!
— Tiffany and Matt
WANT TO HELP?
Volunteer to work the door, photograph or blog the event by emailing Tiffany and Matt.
Have an idea for future ONADC topics, speakers and events? Let us know!
The Knight Lab is supported by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation,Northwestern University, and the University’s Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science and Medill School of Journalism.
A programming workshop for journalists who are new to code
Sponsored by NPR and Medill
Registration opens on Wednesday, July 25, at 8 a.m. Register by August 1. You do not need to be an ONA member to register (but it’s great if you do belong to ONA!), however, we do recommend that you join the ONADC meetup group, to make the registration process easier.
You want to learn how to code, but the newsroom always needs you to do something else instead. Maybe you’ve even tried learning on your own, but it’s hard without someone there to help. At Code with me, a two-day workshop, we’ll teach you how to code from the ground up so you can tell meaningful interactive stories.
We’re specifically designed for journalists without coding experience. With one mentor for every two students, you’ll always have the attention of a professional programmer so you can learn at your own pace, and never feel lost or behind. With more than a dozen mentors total, you’ll join a supportive learning community that will continue on even after the workshop.
Plus, you’ll have fun. You’ll learn HTML, CSS and Javascript by playing games, watching plays, and writing a lot of code. Our goal is to make this your turning point — an experience that not only teaches the basics of code, but gives you the skills and confidence you need to keep programming on your own and in your newsroom.
What makes Code with me unique?
Our mentors are all experienced coders, all work in D.C., and all here to help you.
Our student:mentor ratio of 2:1 means individual attention
Our belief that workshops should be fun, exciting and memorable
Where are the mentors from?
The Washington Post, NPR, AP, Sunlight Foundation and WordPress.
Is this workshop really only for beginners?
Yes. It’s for journalists who have very limited or no experience of how to code. If you’re unsure about whether or not you count as a beginner, contact us.
Do I need to attend the entire workshop if I register?
Yes. Space is limited and we want all the participants to get as much as they can out of the workshop. Please do not register if you cannot attend for the entire time.
What does it mean to be on the wait list?
If a registrant is unable to attend, their spot will be opened up to others. If you are on the wait list, you will receive an e-mail if a spot opens up. The first person to register will receive the spot. Unfortunately, because we are charging for this workshop, we cannot auto-enroll the next individual on the wait list.
Who are the program directors?
Sisi Wei tells interactive stories at the Washington Post. Before Sisi joined the Post as a graphics editor, she taught an intensive one-week workshop on data visualization at the University of British Columbia.
Tom Giratikanon builds interactive graphics at The New York Times. He teaches programming to high school students each summer at the Medill School of Journalism.
Dates: Friday, August 17, and Saturday, August 18, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Register by: Aug. 1 at 11:45 p.m.
What do I need to bring: A laptop. A very limited number of computers will be available for those who don’t have a laptop. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided on both days.
What if I have more questions or I want to talk to the organizers?
If you have any questions please e-mail Sisi and Tom at codewithme.dc@gmail.com. Talk to us on Twitter @codewithme. Or visit our website at codewithmedc.com.
Come Network With Top Journalists in the D.C. Area
The most diverse gathering of journalists called UNITY happens every four years. This year the UNITY convention is meeting in Las Vegas this summer. What better way to prepare than a Mega-Mixer in the Nation’s Capital! All are welcome to network with members of 9 journalism groups at a Mega-Mixer with top journalists covering Washington, the nation and the world. Bring your business cards and get ready to network.
Enjoy free hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail or two at the cash bar. The Pre-UNITY Mega-Mixer is happening at the National Press Club on Tuesday, June 26, from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. The cost is $10 per person; $5 for Press Club members.
Brought to you by: Asian American Journalists Association D.C. Chapter, Association of Alternative Newsmedia, National Association of Hispanic Journalists D.C. Chapter, National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association D.C. Chapter, National Press Club, Online News Association D.C., Society of Professional Journalists D.C. Chapter, UNITY Journalists, and Washington Association of Black Journalists.
LegiStorm’s founder and president Jock Friedly will demonstrate the site’s new premuim Pro product, which brings together a wealth of data on members of Congress and their staff. The non-partisan LegiStorm has provided information on Congress since 2006.
The site was the first to put congressional staff salaries online (and helped spark a national movement to disclose public employee salaries), the first to put all earmarks on the Web (helping to end the practice), and the first to disclose all personal financial disclosures of all members of Congress and staff. This fall, LegiStorm launched its first subscription product, LegiStorm Pro.
That new service offers biographical information on members and staffers, including education, job history and family connections, as well as contact information and real-time tracking of staff positions, updated daily. It has in-depth tracking of the revolving door between K Street and Congress, including data about which companies more than 5,700 staffers and members have lobbied for. And much more, which you will hear about at the meetup.
Drinks and snacks provided, courtesy of LegiStorm. The meetup is at Medill.
Join editors from Philly.com, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News to discuss the role that they play in Interstate General Media's digital future.
After Apple booted Google Maps from iOS last year, Daniel Graf led the development of a beautiful, refreshed mapping experience that shot to number one in the iTunes store and kicked Apple’s ass on its own turf. Here’s how Graf made it happen—in his own words:
“We have a very successful Android version of Google Maps, so the easiest thing to do was to say, this is super-successful, users love it, so why don’t we just port it over to iOS? But I wanted to challenge the team. While the Android version is a great product, you can also tell it’s been around for a while. You have to access everything via menus—it’s not really best-use-case driven anymore. I said, let’s take a step back—what if we could start from scratch and forget anything we’ve ever done? We have the foundation—the Google data, the mapping data, the local business data, the imagery, the navigation algorithms—it’s a dream to start with.”
