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{{Short description|A type of journalism}}
{{Userspace draft|source=ArticleWizard|date=September 2014}}


'''Sensor journalism'''<ref>Sensors & Journalism, Tow Center report, 2014</ref> refers to the use of [[sensors]] to generate or collect data, then analyzing, visualizing, or using the data to support journalistic inquiry. This is related to but distinct from [[data journalism]]. Whereas [[data journalism]] relies on using historical or existing data, sensor journalism involves the creation of data with sensor tools. This also includes [[drone journalism]].<ref>Culver, Kathleen Bartzen. "From Battlefield to Newsroom: Ethical Implications of Drone Technology in Journalism," Journal of Mass Media Ethics (2013)</ref><ref>[[Drone journalism|Drone journalism, Wikipedia.]]</ref>
==Definition==

Sensor journalism<ref>Sensors & Journalism, Tow Center report, 2014</ref> refers to a method of using sensors to generate or collect data, then analyzing, visualizing, or using the data to support journalistic inquiry. This is related to but distinct from data journalism. Whereas [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_journalism data journalism] relies on using historical or existing data, sensor journalism involves the creation of data with sensor tools. This also includes drone journalism.<ref>Culver, Kathleen Bartzen. "From Battlefield to Newsroom: Ethical Implications of Drone Technology in Journalism," Journal of Mass Media Ethics (2013)</ref> <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drone_journalism Drone journalism, Wikipedia.]</ref>


==Background==
==Background==


Examples of sensor-based journalism (below) date back to the early 2000s<ref>Sensors & Journalism, Tow Center report (see 'Case studies,' 2014</ref> and usually involve the use of sensor tools to generate or collect data to be reported on. The way in which the sensors are deployed varies. In some cases, a journalist will learn how to operate and deploy a sensor (see Houston Chronicle) while in others (see WNYC Cicada Tracker), the sensors are built and deployed by the general public. Journalists can also request data from existing sensor networks (see Sun Sentinel example) and remote sensors (see ProPublica example)<ref>[http://towcenter.org/sensors-and-journalism/sensors-and-journalism-propublica-satellites-and-the-shrinking-louisiana-coast/ Tow Center blog, "ProPublic Satellites and the Shrinking Louisiana Coast]</ref>.
Examples of sensor-based journalism (below) date back to the early 2000s<ref>Sensors & Journalism, Tow Center report (see 'Case studies,' 2014</ref> and usually involve the use of sensor tools to generate or collect data to be reported on. The way in which the sensors are deployed varies. In some cases, a journalist will learn how to operate and deploy a sensor (see [[Houston Chronicle]]) while in others (see [[WNYC Cicada Tracker]]), the sensors are built and deployed by the general public. Journalists can also request data from existing sensor networks (see [[Sun Sentinel]] example) and remote sensors (see [[ProPublica]] example).<ref>[http://towcenter.org/sensors-and-journalism/sensors-and-journalism-propublica-satellites-and-the-shrinking-louisiana-coast/ Tow Center blog, "ProPublic Satellites and the Shrinking Louisiana Coast]</ref>


Sensors used for reporting can be closed source with expressly stated terms of use or open source, which allows for modification of the sensor downstream of development<ref>Sensors & Journalism, Tow Center report, "Closed Source Initiatives" p. 164, 2014</ref>.
Sensors used for reporting can be closed source with expressly stated terms of use or open source, which allows for modification of the sensor downstream of development.<ref>Sensors & Journalism, Tow Center report, "Closed Source Initiatives" p. 164, 2014</ref>


Sensor journalism modules have been taught at Emerson College<ref>[http://publiclab.org/search/sensor%20journalism "Sensor journalism student reflections"]</ref> (around water quality/contamination) and Florida International University (around sea-level rise)<ref>[http://www.eyesontherise.org/rktd/ King Tide Day project from Florida International University]</ref><ref>[http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/cultist/2014/09/king_tide_day_students_gather_on_miami_beach_to_combat_sea_level_rise_apathy.php Lean, Rachel. "King Tide Day: Students Gather on Miami Beach To Combat Sea Level Rise Apathy," Miami New Times (2013)]</ref>. An air quality sensor journalism module is slated for spring of 2015 at San Diego State University<ref>[http://sensorjournalism.wordpress.com "What's In the Air?" project from San Diego State University]</ref>.
Sensor journalism modules have been taught at [[Emerson College]]<ref>[http://publiclab.org/search/sensor%20journalism "Sensor journalism student reflections"]</ref> (around water quality/contamination) and [[Florida International University]] (around [[sea-level rise]]).<ref>[http://www.eyesontherise.org/rktd/ Gutsche, Robert. King Tide Day project from Florida International University]</ref><ref>[http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/cultist/2014/09/king_tide_day_students_gather_on_miami_beach_to_combat_sea_level_rise_apathy.php Lean, Rachel. "King Tide Day: Students Gather on Miami Beach To Combat Sea Level Rise Apathy," Miami New Times (2013)]</ref><ref>[http://www.today.com/video/today/56214810#56214810 TODAY Show. King Tide Day (2014)]</ref><ref>[http://www.robertgutschejr.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/sea-level-journalism-practice.pdf Gutsche, Robert "RECIPROCAL (AND REDUCTIONIST?) NEWSWORK An examination of youth involvement in creating local participatory environmental news," Journalism Practice (2015)]</ref> San Diego State University planned an air-quality sensor-journalism module for spring 2015.<ref>
[http://sensorjournalism.wordpress.com "What's In the Air?" project from San Diego State University]</ref>


==Examples==
==Examples==


* '''Houston Chronicle, In Harm’s Way'''<ref>[http://www.chron.com/news/article/Chronicle-cross-county-study-reveals-risky-load-1643020.php '''Houston Chronicle, In Harm’s Way''']</ref>
* Houston Chronicle, In Harm’s Way<ref>[http://www.chron.com/news/article/Chronicle-cross-county-study-reveals-risky-load-1643020.php Houston Chronicle, In Harm’s Way]</ref>


:A study about toxic chemicals in the air in public parks.
:The Houston Chronicle tested the air in public parks, playgrounds and neighborhoods bordering some of the state's largest industrial plants and found the air in the Manchester area laden with toxic chemicals. The Chronicle collected air samples over the course of 3 days in Houston, Baytown, Freeport and Port Neches. The test was carried out with equipment used by plant workers to detect hazardous chemicals in the air, and the samples were analyzed for 18 toxic substances by the University of Texas School of Public Health.


* '''USA Today, Ghost Factories'''<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/topic/B68DCD3E-7E3F-424A-BDA4-41077D772EA1/ghostfactories/ '''USA Today, Ghost Factories''']</ref>
* USA Today, Ghost Factories<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/topic/B68DCD3E-7E3F-424A-BDA4-41077D772EA1/ghostfactories/ USA Today, Ghost Factories]</ref>


:A series that looked at lead-contaminated soil in neighborhoods around previous U.S. lead factories.
:In 2012, USA Today published a series called “Ghost Factories” which investigated lead-contaminated soil in neighborhoods around previous U.S. lead factory sites. The investigation addressed the lack of action taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to test and clean up these sites despite having been warned in 2001 about the dangerous levels of lead contamination around the area. The journalism team used an XRF analyzer, which miners traditionally used to analyze soil samples. The tool's manufacturer ThermoFisher set the units to analyze the soil for specific pollutants that USA Today was investigating.


* '''Sun Sentinel, Above the Law''' <ref>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/speeding-cops/ '''Sun Sentinel, Above the Law''']</ref>
* Sun Sentinel, Above the Law<ref>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/speeding-cops/ Sun Sentinel, Above the Law]</ref>


:A series about the tendencies of cops to speed.
:In February 2012, Sun Sentinel released a three-part series revealing the tendencies of cop cars to speed. The reporters found nearly 800 officers who reached speeds of 90-130 mph, many of them while off duty. The journalism team was able to request and access sensor data from toll gates to assess the speed of cop cars. As a direct result of the Sun Sentinel's investigation, many officers were disciplined, suspended and/or fired.


* '''WNYC Cicada Tracker'''<ref>[http://project.wnyc.org/cicadas '''WNYC Cicada Tracker''']</ref>
* WNYC Cicada Tracker<ref>[http://project.wnyc.org/cicadas WNYC Cicada Tracker]</ref>


:A project that revolved around the emergence of [[Magicicada]].
:The WNYC Data News team conceived of the Cicada Tracker project, which revolved around the emergence of the Magicicada brood in the summer of 2013. The project involved getting public radio listeners to measure soil temperature using Arduino-based sensors and report it back to WNYC using a data app on their website. From Tow report: “Altogether, the sensor design that WNYC published online required parts costing about $80 and could be assembled in 29 steps, each illustrated with a picture and a short piece of text. Consequently, people in the WNYC community actually spent the money, invested the time to build the sensor, and started to send in their temperature readings.” A new design was eventually released, for which the cost of parts was only $12.


* '''Washington Post, ShotSpotter'''<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/shotspotter-detection-system-documents-39000-shooting-incidents-in-the-district/2013/11/02/055f8e9c-2ab1-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html '''Washington Post, ShotSpotter''']</ref>
* Washington Post, ShotSpotter<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/shotspotter-detection-system-documents-39000-shooting-incidents-in-the-district/2013/11/02/055f8e9c-2ab1-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html Washington Post, ShotSpotter]</ref>


:A project with 300 acoustic sensors across 20 square miles in D.C.
:ShotSpotter captured more than 9,000 incidents of gunfire using a web of 300 acoustic sensors across 20 square miles in D.C. About 39,000 separate incidents of gunfire have been documented by this network. The data were obtained through a public-records request and offer an unprecedented view of gun crime in a city where shooting a firearm is illegal.


* '''Planet Money, Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt'''<ref>[http://www.npr.org/series/248799434/planet-moneys-t-shirt-project/ '''Planet Money, Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt''']</ref>
* Planet Money, Planet Money Makes a T-shirt<ref>[https://www.npr.org/series/248799434/planet-moneys-t-shirt-project/ Planet Money, Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt]</ref>


:A project that followed the production of a shirt from beginning to end.
:The public radio show Planet Money ran a Kickstarter campaign for a short-sleeved shirt made out of cotton with a printed cartoon squirrel holding a martini glass. The idea was to follow the production of the shirt from beginning to end. The reporting process involved the use of drones to take aerial photography and footage of cotton farms.


* '''ProPublica, Losing Ground'''<ref>[https://projects.propublica.org/louisiana/ '''ProPublica, Losing Ground''']</ref>
* ProPublica, Losing Ground<ref>[https://projects.propublica.org/louisiana/ ProPublica, Losing Ground]</ref>


:A study of sea-level rise in Louisiana.
:ProPublica journalists used remote-sensing data from Landsat-8 satellites to show the effects of sea-level rise in Louisiana. The team processed Landsat-8 images and drew on the US Geological Survey’s interpretations of data from earlier Landsat craft. Starting with data collected from aerial photography in the 1950s and ending with 2012 satellite data, the layered maps show how the canals transformed the marshlands and the relocated soil stopped sediments replenishing the land.


==Related==
==Related==


* Citizen science
* [[Citizen science]]
* Citizen sensing
* [[Remote sensing]]
* [[Crowdsensing]]
* Remote sensing
* Crowdsourcing
* [[Crowdsourcing]]
* [[Crowdmapping]]
* Data journalism
* Data visualization
* [[Data journalism]]
* [[Data visualization]]
* Citizen journalism
* [[Citizen journalism]]
* Environmental monitoring
* [[Environmental monitoring]]
* Post-industrial journalism
* Open software/hardware
* [[Open software|Open software/hardware]]
* Open source
* [[Open source]]
* Open science
* [[Open science]]
* Responsive city



==Tools and Platforms==


==Tools and platforms==
* [http://www.openstreetmap.org/ OpenStreetMap]
* [http://www.openstreetmap.org/ OpenStreetMap]
* [http://www.cartodb.com CartoDB]
* [http://www.cartodb.com CartoDB]
* [https://xively.com/ Xively]
* [https://xively.com/ Xively]
* [http://www.opensensors.io/ OpenSensors.io]
* [http://www.opensensors.com/ OpenSensors.com]
* [http://www.publiclab.org Public Laboratory of Science]
* [[Public Lab]]oratory for Open Technology and Science
* [https://www.manylabs.org Manylabs]



== References ==
== References ==

<!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags, these references will then appear here automatically -->
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


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* Fahn, James. "[http://earthjournalism.net/stories/feel-me-the-promise-and-perils-of-sensor-based-journalism The Promise and Perils of Sensor-Based Journalism]," Earth Journalism Network, 2013.
* Fahn, James. "[http://earthjournalism.net/stories/feel-me-the-promise-and-perils-of-sensor-based-journalism The Promise and Perils of Sensor-Based Journalism]," Earth Journalism Network, 2013.
* Moradi, Javaun. "[http://javaunmoradi.com/blog/2011/12/16/what-do-open-sensor-networks-mean-for-journalism/ What Do Open Sensor Networks Mean for Journalism?]," 2011.
* Moradi, Javaun. "[http://javaunmoradi.com/blog/2011/12/16/what-do-open-sensor-networks-mean-for-journalism/ What Do Open Sensor Networks Mean for Journalism?]," 2011.
* Bui, Lilian. "[http://cmsw.mit.edu/working-typology-sensor-journalism-projects/ A (Working) Typology of Sensor Journalism Projects]," 2014
* Bui, Lilian. "[http://cmsw.mit.edu/working-typology-sensor-journalism-projects/ A (Working) Typology of Sensor Journalism Projects]," MIT Comparative Media Studies blog, 2014
* [http://publiclab.org/search/sensor%20journalism "Sensor journalism student reflections from Emerson College"]
* [http://publiclab.org/search/sensor%20journalism "Sensor journalism student reflections from Emerson College"]
* Kishor, Puneet. [http://punkish.org/Taxonomy-of-Sensors "A Taxonomy of Sensors,"] 2014.
* Kishor, Puneet. [http://punkish.org/Taxonomy-of-Sensors "A Taxonomy of Sensors,"] 2014.
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* [http://www.niemanlab.org/2013/03/the-cicadas-are-coming-wnycs-tracker-is-the-latest-sign-of-the-rise-of-sensor-news-networks/ O'Donovan, Caroline. "The cicadas are coming: WNYC’s tracker is the latest sign of the rise of sensor news networks," Nieman Lab, 2013.]
* [http://www.niemanlab.org/2013/03/the-cicadas-are-coming-wnycs-tracker-is-the-latest-sign-of-the-rise-of-sensor-news-networks/ O'Donovan, Caroline. "The cicadas are coming: WNYC’s tracker is the latest sign of the rise of sensor news networks," Nieman Lab, 2013.]
* [http://www.poynter.org/how-tos/digital-strategies/210558/how-sensor-journalism-can-help-us-create-data-improve-our-storytelling/ Waite, Matt. "How sensor journalism can help us create data, improve our storytelling," Poynter, 2013.]
* [http://www.poynter.org/how-tos/digital-strategies/210558/how-sensor-journalism-can-help-us-create-data-improve-our-storytelling/ Waite, Matt. "How sensor journalism can help us create data, improve our storytelling," Poynter, 2013.]
* [http://www.rjionline.org/news/sensor-journalism-finding-meaning-within-data Nelson, Jennifer. "Sensor journalism: Finding meaning within the data," Reynolds Journalism Institute (2014).]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141102021232/http://www.rjionline.org/news/sensor-journalism-finding-meaning-within-data Nelson, Jennifer. "Sensor journalism: Finding meaning within the data," Reynolds Journalism Institute (2014).]

<!--- Categories --->

[[Category:Articles created via the Article Wizard]]


[[Category:21st-century introductions]]
{{AFC submission|||ts=20141012150942|u=Lilybeewiki|ns=2}}
[[Category:Types of journalism]]
[[Category:Sensors]]

Latest revision as of 05:12, 13 September 2023

Sensor journalism[1] refers to the use of sensors to generate or collect data, then analyzing, visualizing, or using the data to support journalistic inquiry. This is related to but distinct from data journalism. Whereas data journalism relies on using historical or existing data, sensor journalism involves the creation of data with sensor tools. This also includes drone journalism.[2][3]

Background[edit]

Examples of sensor-based journalism (below) date back to the early 2000s[4] and usually involve the use of sensor tools to generate or collect data to be reported on. The way in which the sensors are deployed varies. In some cases, a journalist will learn how to operate and deploy a sensor (see Houston Chronicle) while in others (see WNYC Cicada Tracker), the sensors are built and deployed by the general public. Journalists can also request data from existing sensor networks (see Sun Sentinel example) and remote sensors (see ProPublica example).[5]

Sensors used for reporting can be closed source with expressly stated terms of use or open source, which allows for modification of the sensor downstream of development.[6]

Sensor journalism modules have been taught at Emerson College[7] (around water quality/contamination) and Florida International University (around sea-level rise).[8][9][10][11] San Diego State University planned an air-quality sensor-journalism module for spring 2015.[12]

Examples[edit]

  • Houston Chronicle, In Harm’s Way[13]
A study about toxic chemicals in the air in public parks.
  • USA Today, Ghost Factories[14]
A series that looked at lead-contaminated soil in neighborhoods around previous U.S. lead factories.
  • Sun Sentinel, Above the Law[15]
A series about the tendencies of cops to speed.
  • WNYC Cicada Tracker[16]
A project that revolved around the emergence of Magicicada.
  • Washington Post, ShotSpotter[17]
A project with 300 acoustic sensors across 20 square miles in D.C.
  • Planet Money, Planet Money Makes a T-shirt[18]
A project that followed the production of a shirt from beginning to end.
  • ProPublica, Losing Ground[19]
A study of sea-level rise in Louisiana.

Related[edit]

Tools and platforms[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]