Random quotes from NICAR2010
These quotes were randomly selected during NICAR 2010 (Computer Assisted Reporting Conference) which is being held in Phoenix this weekend.
“One of the biggest reasons for fraud is because of financial stressors. Companies today need to be careful and lock down. They don’t know what’s going on at home. Companies need to be aware of that.”
Joe Epps, forensic accountant and professor at ASU
“Most of this is slightly dull. But some of it can be interesting.”
Anu Narayanswamy, Sunlight Foundation, summing up her fascination with data.
“I got this idea by watching ‘The Wire.’ “
Steve Doig, ASU, on how pre-paid cell phones can be untraceable.
“When you finally get the data you need, make a copy of it, put it in a safe place to protect and hopefully never look at again.”
Mark Horvit, executive director, Investigative Reporters and Editors
“At the Wall Street Journal, nobody will read anything about themselves in the paper or online that they didn’t already know.”
Rick Brooks, deputy Money & Investing editor, The Wall Street Journal
“When you put this many people on the doorsteps all over the country things happen.”
Paul Overberg, a database editor at USA Today, on covering the Census
“There is almost never a smoking gun. What it takes is to overlay data, to build a story that’s never been done before.”
Doug Haddix, IRE training director
“Start thinking about building your own database library for whatever you cover, wherever you are.”
Brant Houston, the Knight Chair in Investigative Reporting at the University of Illinois
“Half the battle is knowing what exists.”
Jaimi Dowdell, a training director for Investigative Reporters and Editors.
On social media: “It’s not a question of putting up more and more. It’s a question of putting up the right thing.”
Nils Mulvad, of Kaas & Mulvad and associate professor at The Danish School of Media and Journaism
On how journalism is no longer about broadcasting stories: “The future is about how stories are connected. We need to figure out how we will fit” into this network.
Nils Mulvad, of Kaas & Mulvad
“You have to show these people it’s easier to give you what you want than to not comply.”
Rob O’Dell, who has covered Tucson City hall for the Arizona Daily Star since 2003
“It’s important to establish a precedence. Show that other people, or even they, have released the documents you’re asking for electronically.”
Rob O’Dell, Arizona Daily Star
“Radio Shack” Two words Tweeted that led to a great ESPN exclusive.
Paula Levine, ESPN, on how Bonnie D. Ford confirmed a rumor about how sponsorship for Lance Armstrong’s team was changing.
