Tactics for mining data on the Web

If you’re ready to become the data maven of your newsroom, you first need to identify some spots on the Web that are a go-to source for information.

Jaimi Dowdell, a training director for Investigative Reporters and Editors, offered a quick tutorial this morning at the Computer Assisted Reporting conference on sites that should land on every reporter’s radar.

“Half the battle is knowing what exists,” Dowdell said.

Here’s a few to get you going:

• Fedstats – A to Z list of statistical data from the government.
• Data.gov – searchable catalogs of government data.
• USAspending.gov – includes databases on federal contracts and financial assistance such as grants, loans, insurance, and direct subsidies.
• OSHA – information on workplace safety.
• Fatality Analysis Reporting System -  statistics on vehicle safety, drivers, traffic situations, and roadways.
• Federal Railroad Administration – data on railroad safety.
• Environmental Protection Agency - a vast inventory of environmental statistics.
• BRB Publications – links to thousands of free public records sites. You can click on any state and it will list all the searchable databases online. It’s quick, it’s easy.