Join us March 18, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. PDT. More information!

The role of data journalists in the scientific process has traditionally been overlooked. However, the most recent pandemic showed how journalism shapes scientific responses and public policy. Thousands of journalists rose to the challenge when the public needed information in order to respond to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic. Journalists acquired COVID-19 data, visualized it and disseminated their work to help the world contain the virus and flatten the curve. 

In order to effectively respond to the pandemic, the world needs a coordinated response driven by accurate, complete data. The data must encompass local outbreaks and be released quickly so action can be taken. Journalists, with experience collecting local information and releasing articles in a timely manner, were well suited to help inform the public. However, by visualizing and analyzing COVID data, journalists became participants in the scientific process rather than simple conveyors of results. Their efforts help data scientists, inform decision-makers and shape a new role for data journalism in crisis situations. 

On March 18 the COVID-19 Data Forum, sponsored by the Stanford Data Science Initiative and R Consortium, will host a meeting to discuss how a new breed of data journalists collected quantitative data that helped fight the pandemic. The forum will also discuss how data scientists utilize their resources to create better models. 

Speakers: 

• Doctor Irena Hwang, data reporter at ProPublica 
• Mark Hansen, David and Helen Gurley Brown Professor of Journalism and Innovation 
• Ana Carolina Moreno, senior data journalist at TV Globo in São Paulo, Brasil 
• Meghan Hoyer, director of data reporting at The Washington Post

The event is free and open to the public!

Join us March 18, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. PDT. More information!

The post Upcoming Event: The role of data journalism in the COVID-19 pandemic appeared first on R Consortium.