I’m a third semester graduate student studying mass communication at Texas State University. With a grad concentration in global media and an undergraduate degree in International Studies, I’ve long been interested in international politics and communication. In the summer of 2015 I held a public affairs internship at the U.S. Embassy in London, U.K. where I had the opportunity to work on the embassy’s Tumblr blog. I’m currently covering SXSW Interactive with SXTXState while also holding a digital marketing internship at PR By the Book in Austin, TX.
Though my interests and activities vary widely, I consider myself a storyteller in everything I do, whether it’s contributing to social media campaigns for new authors or conducting interviews for SXTX State. For me, data journalism is another exciting way to tell stories – and I want in on it. Whether it’s as pipe-dreamy as a powerball simulator or as sobering as campaign finance, I’m convinced that people want news they can interact with. There’s tons of data out there just waiting for a skilled storyteller to make the connection and visualize it in a useful, entertaining and informative way.
Data journalism can both personalize the news and also offer a comprehensive big picture. The possibilities are endless and it begins with journalists having the tools and knowledge they need to analyze data and find a story. The closer to home the better – people want to read and use data journalism that directly affects their lives. What about an apartment locating website for San Marcos that takes more than price into account? Students looking for housing need more information and more comparison. They want to know proximity to campus, noise complaints, rent or buy availability, proximity to tram routes, proximity to HEB, security features and other amenities. I know about 38,000 students with their own housing checklist that would use this site now.