JN 8103 — Reporting and Data Methods for Journalists — Section 011 — Fall 2024

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Land Acknowledgement

Toronto is in the ‘Dish With One Spoon Territory’. The Dish With One Spoon is a treaty between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee that bound them to share the territory and protect the land. Subsequent Indigenous Nations and peoples, Europeans and all newcomers have been invited into this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship and respect.

Tues 10:00-13:00 in-person and virtual
RCC 189

Instructor Information
Instructor:
David McKie
Email Address:
dmckie@torontomu.ca
davidmckiec@gmail.com
Phone Number:
613-290-7380

Course TA
Alina Snisarenko
Email address:
alina.snisarenko@torontomu.ca
Phone Number:
647-867-2001

David

I am an Ottawa-based, award-winning journalist who spent 26 years honing his skills at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as an investigative producer.

I am the National Observer’s deputy managing editor.

I teach at the schools of journalism at Carleton University, the University of King’s College, and Toronto Metropolitan University, and have co-authored three journalism textbooks and two user guides on freedom-of-information laws and privacy, respectively.

In addition to my teaching, I’m a data-journalism trainer who has conducted workshops for the Canadian Association of Journalists, the U.S.-based National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting, the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, and the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations. I also continue to offer data-journalism training to the CBC.

I’m a judge for the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting’s Philip Meyer Journalism Award, and the Investintech – Canadian Association of Journalist Data Journalism Scholarship.

I have a Bachelor of Journalism degree and a Master of Journalism degree from Carleton.

You can find more information about me on my online cv.

Alina

I am a Toronto-based journalist and a recent graduate from TMU’s journalism program. I currently work at CBC Toronto as an associate producer with the radio team, producing breaking news for the city’s morning show, Metro Morning. Prior to the CBC I spent my time at the Investigative Journalism Bureau (IJB), where I dug deep into investigations ranging from the sale of illegal health products to the state or our province’s healthcare system, both of which were nominated for the 2024 CAJ awards. My time at the IJB was also spent launching Heliograph, an investigative podcast for journalists. 

In addition to my radio and investigative work, I’ve been a TA for the reporting and data methods course for both the Fall 2022 and 2023 semesters. 

Course Overview

Course Description
Research is the keystone of good journalism. Without it, we may be doing little more than passing on a rumor, relaying so-called “fake news” or regurgitating public relations handouts. If you don’t check your information, how do you know what you’re telling people is even close to the truth? Concerns about artificial intelligence’s impact on the reliability of news makes it even more important for journalists to tell stories based on reliable and verifiable information. In short, check it out yourself by going to the original source. This exhortation will become our guiding principle.

This course will focus on learning the tools of good research that are essential to being a competent and trustworthy journalist. Students will learn how to start mastering the ability to dig beneath the surface of a story. The course will encompass getting the most out of your online research to gather information. Detailed attention will be given to the systematic use of electronic databases; specialized techniques such mining open-data portals and reading financial statements to follow money; and how to use social media to your advantage: in short, how to approach a research challenge from multiple directions.

The course will also place an emphasis on data journalism. The amount of information flow travelling online means today’s journalists require a specialized skill set to find, sort, retrieve and analyze massive amounts of data. Beyond just finding data, we’ll also look at the importance of finding the story that the data tells — a critical and often overlooked component.

At the same time, the course will ask students to examine not just HOW to conduct research, but WHY you are doing it. The fully aware journalist investigates within a set of well-considered moral and ethical guidelines. We need to ask the questions, “What will the impact of my research be, and what lengths can I and should I go to get that information?”

Learning Outcomes

  • Learn the rudimentary tools of research that you’ll need as a working journalist;
  • Be introduced to the basic tools of data journalism;
  • Appreciate and understand the context in which these skills should be applied;
  • Obtain a thorough grounding in journalistic research methods;
  • Acquire skills needed to make sense of the information gathered;
  • How to evaluate multimedia elements to enhance your storytelling, including data-visualizations, and analyzing datasets;
  • How to file formal and informal federal access-to-information and provincial freedom-of-information requests.

Teaching Methods

  • In-class and virtual Lectures;
  • The syllabus will be posted on my WordPress site and Brightspace;
  • In-class and virtual activities and discussion;
  • One-on-one coaching sessions with yours truly and our amazing teaching assistant Alina Snisarenko;
  • Because I’m based in Ottawa, classes will be in-person, and virtual via Zoom. (Zoom accessed via your university Zoom account).
  • All classes will be recorded on Zoom, even when we are in-person. Recordings allow folks who must miss class because of illness to review the lessons at their earliest convenience to catch up. In short, recording the classes and making them available for our eyes only ensures no one gets left behind. And just as importantly, you’ll be able to review the technical portions that explain and teach the skills you’ll need to complete the four assignments. Each class then becomes a de facto instructional video to re viewed at your earliest convenience;
  • We will also be creating video tutorials to help with some of the technical aspects;
  • Course documents will also be posted on D2L Brightspace, the university’s learning platform, as will this syllabus.

Required Course Textbook(s) and Materials

Optional

Marking Scheme

For more information about exams, please see Toronto Metropolitan University’s Senate Policy on Examinations No. 135. For more information about grade appeals and reassessments please see relevant Senate Policies.

ASSIGNMENTDUEWORTH (PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL)
Access-to-information assignmentMon. Sept 23 at 11:59: p.m.
Submit in Word or shared as a Google doc.		10%
Data VisualizationThe week of Oct 21 when data visualization is completed.
Upload to Instagram page		15%
Assessment of a filing from a publicly traded companyMon. Nov 11. at 11:59: p.m.
Submit in DocumentCloud.		20%
Assessment of Facebook’s ad libraryMon. Dec 2 at 11:59: p.m.
20%
Three quizzes based on readings and class work.Will be done and marked in class. Grades will be emailed.15%
ParticipationSee details below.10%
ProfessionalismSee details below.10%



GRADING  RUBRICSExcellent
(A- to A+)		Good
(B- to B+)		Below expectations
(C+ and below)
Access-to-information assignmentHas conducted the legwork necessary to file well-researched, properly worded requests  and has shown clear evidence of tracking the progress of the requests.Has conducted the legwork necessary to file moderately-researched and worded requests  between and has shown some evidence of tracking the progress of the requests.Has filed poorly researched and worded requests and has shown no evidence of tracking the progress of the requests and sent the requests to the wrong institutions.
Data VisualizationHas created a visualization using data from Statistics Canada with a title, legend, easily-understood symbolization, source citation and paragraph-length explanation about what the audience is seeing.Has created a visualization using data from Statistics Canada with a title, legend, easily-understood symbolization, no source citation and no paragraph-length explanation about what the audience is seeing, or an explanation lacking in adequate detail to allow the reader to understand the visualization. Has created a visualization using data from Statistics Canada with no title, no legend, poorly-understood symbolization, no source citation and no paragraph-length explanation about what the audience is seeing.
Assessment of a filing from a publicly traded companyHas used five annotations to explain the significance and newsworthiness of the information being cited. The paragraph-length explanations are well-written and grammatically correct.Has used five annotations to explain the significance and newsworthiness of the information being cited. The paragraph-length explanations are lacking significant detail, or written in hard-to-understand jargon that fails to put the information into an understandable context.Has used fewer than five annotations to explain the significance and newsworthiness of the information being cited. The paragraph-length explanations are poorly written and contain grammatical errors.
Facebook ad library assignmentThe story pitch is solid and based on extensive research. The story pitch has potential, but still need more research.  The pitch is weak, based on insufficient research.
Three quizzes based on readings and class work.Have answered all the questions correctly.Has answered less then three-quarters of the questions correctly.Has answered less than half of the questions correctly.

Readings schedule

Week one: Chapter 10, Digging Deeper – Getting Behind Closed Doors: Using the Information Laws

Week two: Chapters 1, 2, 3, The Data Journalist

Week four: Data Journalist Chapter 8, Visualizing Data

Week five: Digging Deeper, Chapter 4, Using Public Records

Week five: Data Journalist, Chapter 11, Telling Stories With Data

Week six: Digging Deeper, Chapter 9, Following the Money

ASSIGNMENT Q&As

1. Access-to-information assignment

An exercise involving preparation and submission of freedom-of-information requests to all levels of government, due Mon. Sept 23 at 11:59 PM.

You will file ONE formal request to each level of government: federal, provincial and municipal.

You will also file FIVE requests for previously released records from the federal government.

ALL the requests must be in ONE Word document, separated by titles: Federal request informal requests; Federal formal request; Provincial request; Municipally- based request.

Assignment checklist

  1. Copies of one request to EACH of the three levels of government (municipal, provincial, federal);
  2. Copies of the acknowledgements received/sent by you during the course of each of the above-noted requests;
  3. Proof of the five informal requests for previously released records from the federal government;
  4. All of the above will be pasted and numbered in ONE emailed Word document. Here’s an example. My federal briefing note summaries are copied from an Excel file. You do not have to do this. Just follow my example cited in class, which is also pasted under week two’s “resources” section.

Access-to-information assignment questions and answers

Q: How do I submit my assignment?
A: Information related to the three formal requests and five informal requests must be pasted into ONE Word document which will be emailed as a Word attachment. Number the requests in the federal informal and formal sections.

Q: Do all of my requests have to be on the same topic?
A: No. Request whatever records you might find useful or of interest.

Q: For the federal requests are you advising to request four or five briefing note titles from the same institution?
Q: Yes, because it’s the easiest and may yield the quickest results.

Q: Do you want every piece of correspondence related to formal and informal requests?
A: No, just the original request and an acknowledgment it was received.

Q: Will I receive records from an original request before the end of the term?
A: Probably not, given that many formal requests end up being subjected to extensions, typically between 30 and 150 days. That being said, it’s possible.

Q: So what good is the material if I receive if AFTER the fall term is over?
A: Because you will learn how to navigate the formal access-to-information process, a skill that will enhance your professional career and give you a leg up on the competition; and you may be able to use the records you eventually receive for another assignment, or a freelanced story.

Q: Will I receive records I have requested informally before the end of the term.
A: You probably will. Typically you’ll receive these records within a few weeks.

Q: So, I don’t necessarily have to analyze previously released federal records if I receive them before the end of the term?
A: That’s correct. Though your curiosity should compel you to review the material in case it comes in handy for an assignment for another class.

As we discussed, you should have received some correspondence in response to your formal requests and your previously released federal ones. Here’s a closer look:

Original requests (municipal, provincial/territorial, federal):
(*) An acknowledgment letter or email should have arrived within a week or 10 days.
(*) Many of you will also receive time-extension or fee-assessment letters for your formal requests.
(*) If the time extension is more than 90 days, or you have been assessed fees beyond the application charge, it is best to follow up with the agency to see if you can still narrow the request. It will help to recall our in-class conversation about narrowing a request by either focusing the time-frame or the type of records you seek — for instance, excluding emails, or just focusing on briefing notes.
(*) Sometimes it is not possible to narrow a request, or you may simply choose not to because doing so would unduly limit the desired response.
(*) For federal requests, you only pay a five-dollar initial search fee with the request. There is no search fee, though complicated and unfocused the requests will result in very long delays.
(*) For provincial and municipal requests, you may be asked for an additional search fee beyond the initial five dollar payment. Here, too, complicated and unfocused requests will lead to lengthy extensions where time is money.
(*) However, there is no need to pay additional search fees for the purposes of the assignment.

Previously released federal request:
(*) For this one, if you used the Completed Access to Information Requests site, you may simply have received an automated reply acknowledging your request. But you might have also received a follow-up acknowledgment letter from the agency, or even a letter with a full response, including records.

2. Data visualization assignment

 A digital visualization that tells a story based on analysis of data, due when data-viz is completed the week of Oct 21.

What’s to be submitted?

  1. ONE visualization dashboard created in Tableau, uploaded to the class Instagram account Alina has created. The dashboard must be accompanied by a 100-word explanation that explains the news value and what folks are seeing on the dashboard.
  2. In your explanation used to set up the dashboard, there must be links to AT LEAST two different public records uploaded to DocumentCloud. The DocumentCloud link(s) MUST take readers to the appropriate annotations in the public record.
  3. The Excel workbook that contains the data used for your visualization in Tableau, the Tableau workbook, and your 100-word write-up in a Word document, including the Instagram link, submitted TOGETHER in a zipped folder.

Data visualization questions and answers

Q: Can I choose any dataset?
A: Yes. Ideally, it should be newsworthy.

Q: Can I choose a dataset we have used as an example in class?
A: Yes, but you would have to come up with different examples than the ones we used in class. For instance, you can use Statistics Canada’s Labour Force data that tracks employment. However, you MUST use different numbers from the ones we demonstrated in class.

Q: Do I have to run the dataset by you?
A: Not if it’s from Statistics Canada or another dataset we have examined in class. If it’s from another federal, provincial or municipal open-data portal, you’re welcome to check with me or Alina. However, doing so is optional. Remember, you’ll be judged on the newsworthiness of your visualization and the context you’ve provided. A reader should never wonder why you have created a visualization .

Q: Can the visualization be a jpg or png file?
A: Yes. It will have to be a jpg when uploaded to Instagram. However, because your dashboard will also live on your online Tableau Public, you can link to it.

Q: Do I have to create a pivot table in Excel before importing the data into Tableau?
A: Yes, this way you can use the pivot table as a reference point, just like we did in class.

Q: Will I lose marks for neglecting to ensure my dashboard has a title, and source?
A: Yes.  Half a grade

Q: Do I have to use Tableau?
A: Yes.

Q: Does it have to be a dashboard?
A: Yes.

Q: Will I lose marks for neglecting to upload and annotate my public documents in my explanation to DocumentCloud?
A: Yes, half a grade.

Q: Will I lose marks for not referencing any public records in my explanation.
A: Yes, half a grade.

Q: How should I use public records?
A: Just like you would for any journalistic endeavour, as background information to provide context. For instance, if you cite higher unemployment number for males compared to females in a certain jurisdiction, use a public record such as a government report or study by an expert that explains WHY this is the case. You are not to guess, or provide an unsupported opinion. Or if you are creating a dashboard for inflation, you can site a Bank of Canada report that partially blames high prices on the lack of competition in the grocery store sector. The federal competition watchdog also produced a report on this. If you are using the crime statistics, there are many reports — produced by Statistics Canada itself — that provide excellent context for the numbers. As an additional resource, you might want to set up a Google alert(s) on your topic to see what pops into your inbox over the next few days. Media reports cite relevant material such as studies you could use for context.

Q: Can a public record be an article or news report?
A: NO! Despite what I said about the Google alert, which should ONLY be used as a tip sheet. The focus in this course is the use of the primary records described in Chapter 4 of Digging Deeper. While secondary sources such as media reports are useful as tip sheets for sources of information, they CANNOT be the primary reference, in large part because the media frequently contain inaccuracies that need to be corrected. So if a story mentions a statistic, fact or government program, be sure to go to the original source to verify the information being cited.

Q: Do I have to interview anyone?
A: No.  The point of this assignment is to see how adept you are at choosing information from a publicly available dataset to display, and then consulting public records to add context.

Q. Can you show me an example?
A. Yes, check out  the Tableau dashboard examples on this page on my website and the examples last year’s class posted to our Instagram page.

3. Assessment of a filing from a publicly traded company assignment

An analysis of a financial records of a publicly traded company, due Mon. Nov 11 at 11:59 PM

What is to be submitted?
The most recent financial statement of a publicly traded company uploaded to DocumentCloud and annotated. This is meant to be a critical look at the company’s finances. The reader should not mistake your work for a company news release.

          1. All I need is emailed URLs for the financial filings in DocumentCloud. Be sure to activate the “Collaborator” setting, which allows me to see them;

          2. You’ll be required to provide FIVE separate annotations in the number of documents of your choosing.

3. You’ll be required to submit the most recent interim financial statement and the accompanying management discussion and analysis.  If it’s an annual report, the management, discussion and analysis may be in the same document. As explained in the Digging Deeper business chapter, the analysis provides context for the numbers you’ll be required to annotate. At least two of the annotations must be key numbers such as profit and revenue. The other annotations can be of newsworthy statements in the management, discussion and analysis section.

          3. Each annotation MUST have a title; and a short paragraph that explains the significance of the number or observation. For instance, if the company lost money, explain WHY. If the company concedes that it’s facing a rocky future in its management, discussion and analysis section, explain why this is potentially newsworthy. In addition to context from the management discussion and analysis, your explanation must also draw on at least ONE other additional public record for context with the accompanying URL. For instance, this is the annotation I created.

 Frequently asked questions?

Q: Can it be any company?
A: Yes, as long as it is publicly traded?

Q: What financial records must I submit?
A: The two required documents will be the latest financial filing — an interim financial statement, or annual report — and the accompanying management’s, discussion and analysis. If you are referencing an interim statement, the analysis will be contained in a separate document. If it’s an annual report, the analysis may be in the same document.

Q: Can I submit other documents in addition to the two mandatory ones mentioned above?
A: Yes. But the information must be connected to the numbers you choose to highlight. In short, the extra documents must provide additional context.

Q: How can I tell whether it’s publicly traded?
A: If it’s financial statement is public. For instance, you can typically find financial statements on a company’s website under the heading “investor relations.” If it sells stock in Canada, you can also find it using the search engine SEDAR.

Q: Does the company have to be publicly traded?
A: Yes.

Q: Why can’t it be a private company?
A: As explained in Digging Deeper, private companies are not required to make their financial information public. If private companies produce reports, the information is not subjected to the legal transparency obligations that characterize the filings of publicly traded companies.

Q: Do I have to calculate the percent differences between numbers from different quarters?
A: Yes, You can plug the numbers into an Excel workbook, as you can see in this example.

Q: Will I lose marks if I don’t perform these calculations in Excel?
A: No, because these are calculations you’ll have to perform if you discuss percent increases for line items such as revenues, or profits. If your analysis does not require calculations, then that’s fine. In some cases, the calculation may even be in the financial report. Doing the math yourself is always a good habit to adopt. The bottom line is I’m looking for CONTEXT — shown in my examples — for the information you’ve highlighted in your five annotations.

Q: Do I have to upload other financial statements?
A: You have to upload the most recent management, discussion and analysis for context to explain your numbers. You may also want to upload the latest proxy circular to discuss executive compensation, if that detail is relevant to your assessment.

Q: So, how many financial statements do I upload?
A: For your analysis, you could end up uploading many documents, but what you choose to share with me may only be a subset of them. The bottom line is that you will five, separate annotations with a title and description. For example, you may only choose to share the most recent quarterly or interim financial statement and the management, discussion and analysis. And in your annotation for a table in the financial statement, you may include the calculations you’ve performed in your Excel workbook cited above.

Q: Will I lose marks if the annotations don’t contain any explanation?
A: Yes, a full grade.

Q: So what must I submit?
A: The URLs for your DocumentCloud annations in a  Word document, emailed to me.


Assessment of Meta’s ad library

META AD LIBRARY Q&As

4. Facebook ad library analysis assignment

An exercise involving the analysis of the ads running in the Facebook library using our dashboard.

You will be required to make one formal, 500-word story pitch based on your analysis of the library data that you will download and save in Excel format. Due Dec. 2 at 11:59 PM, or another date to be determined.


Assignment checklist

  1. One Excel spreadsheet with the original table and a second sheet with the pivot table(s) you will use to drive your analysis;
  2. One Word document with the 500-word pitch that will contain the following: A focus statement; a paragraph-length explanation of WHY the ad or series of ads you’ve chosen is newsworthy, using a public record (a poll; news release, study, Question Period briefing note, etc.) as proof. For instance, the federal Liberal Party’s continued purchase of Facebook ads after a major fight with Meta and Google made news because of the irony of the situation. That is, a governing federal political party using the very same social media platform that’s threatening to stop running news to thwart the impending legislation, as Facebook ended up doing. Or, in the case of Rory’s example, you could focus on how political operatives may be pumping up the oil and gas industry and shielding their identity in the process, a practice that possibly contravenes Meta’s transparency policy.
  3. Treatment. Who would you interview and why? Sticking with the Liberal Party example, it would be unreasonable to suggest the prime minister, or perhaps even the federal heritage minister — responsible for the social media advertising file — especially if you’re working for a small news outlet. In this instance, it might be more reasonable to suggest a Liberal Party spokesperson or a political scientist who has been following and writing about this issue.  Finding the right voice requires the kind of research we will have discussed in detail. Or, in Rory’s example, you could attempt to contact one of the operatives, but anticipating that this call will be ignored, you could suggest an expert in disinformation who has written about deceptive practices on social media.

Facebook ad library analysis questions and answers

Q: Can I choose any advertiser?

A: Yes, as long as the person or institution is newsworthy. The case of the Liberal Party is clear, given the political controversy. But it might not be as obvious for another advertiser such as an institution, think tank, non-governmental organization or lobbyist. Just like any pitch, you have to make the case and explain why the individual or institution’s use of the ad library is newsworthy.

Q: How detailed should the focus statement be?
A: Ideally, one or two sentences. If it takes you longer to explain the pitch, your story needs work. 

Q: Can you provide an example?
A: Sticking with the Liberal Party example: The Liberal Party of Canada is still advertising on Facebook despite Meta’s threat to thwart a new law that would make the company pay for news content. 

Q: Part of the pitch is a paragraph-length explanation of WHY it’s a story. What criteria will be used to judge the explanation?
A: Newsworthiness and the research that went into it. The explanation can’t be aspirational. That is, you hope to do this or that. The explanation must be based on fact – just like the previous assignments – and at least one public record in addition to the ad in the library. In the Liberal Party example, a public record could be a Facebook ad, or a news release justifying its decision, or an institution’s criticism of the decision. Or, in Rory’s example, it could be a paper on disinformation on social media by an expert, or government department responsible for policing social media.

Q: The final part of the pitch is treatment or voice. How much detail will be required and how will the quality of that choice be judged?
A: Again, research, research, research. It just can’t be anyone, or someone you hope to interview. That won’t fly if you’re chasing for a daily CBC television or radio show, or writing a same-day story for a digital news outlet. It MUST be someone who is relevant: a key player; an expert with knowledge of the subject you are pitching. The choice will also be based on the research you’ve conducted: the person’s social media posts; editorials, posts on substack, or other forms of public criticism. 

Q: But wait, didn’t you say we should avoid using media reports as references?
A: Yes, but if this is a critic expressing an opinion in an editorial, social media post, etc., then there is little chance of the individual being misquoted. 

Q: Is 500 words a hard limit?
A: Yes. If you’ve done your homework, basing your assessment on the kinds of records discussed in this Q&A and in this course, then it shouldn’t take very long to convince an editor or a producer to let you do the story. Editors and producers are busy people. They don’t have time to read lengthy, meandering pitches. They need to be convinced within the first two or three sentences the pitch is worth pursuing. 

Q: Do I have to do extensive analysis of the Facebook Ad Library?
A: No more than you’ve had to analyze a Statistics Canada table or financial statement before figuring out a story. Find an advertiser, do some research and pitch. Having said that, you may have to whittle your choice down to a few advertisers before settling on the right one. This is no different than the selection process used for previous assignments. 

Three quizzes based on readings and class work

What will be required?

At the end of each of the course’s three discrete sections (each lasting four weeks), there will be a short quiz (cited on the syllabus), which should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete. The quizzes will be out of 10 with two bonus questions and will be done in class, with yours truly reading the questions. We will grade them together. Discuss the answers. You’ll email your result.

Q: Why are quizzes necessary?
A: To ensure you’ve done the readings and have been following along in class.

Q: Will I have to study for them?
A: Not if you’ve done the readings and participated in class.

Q: Will I be able to make up the quizzes if I miss class or show up too late to take the quiz?
A: Yes, but only if I received notice BEFORE the class that you’ll be absent or late. If you simply fail to show up for class on that particular day with no warning or arrive after we’ve done the test, you will be forfeiting five marks.

Q: Will I get extra time to complete the quiz if I’m late?
A: Only if you’ve given me a heads-up before class you’ll be late. Otherwise, you’ll have to make do with the time you have.

Grading information

This is what the marks mean:

A+ (9-10)

Excellent work that shows exemplary initiative and only requires minor editing. Spelling, grammar and CP style rules are observed.

A (8.5)

Excellent work, with only minor editing. Spelling and grammar rules are observed, as is CP style. All it may be missing is a better source, a sharper example, or an extra detail.

A– (8)

Still very good work. There are few unanswered questions and needs only minor editing and attention to style. Spelling, grammar and style rules are observed.

B+ (7.7–7.9)

No major reporting problems but structural problems that may require further attention by you or moderate editing – stronger back-up for your lede, a point left unexplained, vague references to clarify, adding transitions, etc.

B (7.5)

The story needs moderate editing to clarify key statements or to add background. Some minor points have been left unexplained. Spelling and grammar rules are observed, as is CP style.

B– (7.0–7.3)

A competent piece of writing, but story shows some minor gaps in logic, or is missing a worthwhile fact or source. Needs moderate to major editing or rewriting. It may need additional reporting.

NOTE: You require a mark of at least B– (70) to pass this course.

D to C+ (5–6.9)

Marginally unacceptable. Work ranges from nearly adequate to seriously flawed, showing inattention to detail or a lack of journalistic fundamentals. It needs extensive editing, rewriting or more reporting to address problems. The story may lack balance, miss the lede or be under sourced. Not publishable without extensive work.

F(0–5)

Inadequate work. The story is confusing, inaccurate, incomplete, or contains a misspelled proper noun or name, a statement that is libelous, or an error in fact.

Classroom Management

Participation and Attendance

You can guarantee a good grade for participation by:

  • doing the readings  and exercises in advance and coming to class prepared;
  • participating regularly in class discussions;

This mark will be assigned on the following basis:

  • Infrequent or no participation; comments show little or no familiarity with the weekly readings, video tutorials or other material assigned by the instructor.  Four to five (out of 10)
  • Occasional participation; comments show general but not detailed knowledge of the readings, video tutorials, etc.; comments tend to be expressions of personal opinion not based on the readings.  five to eight (out of 10)
  • Regular participation; comments show detailed familiarity with readings, video tutorials, etc.; comments are based on knowledge gleaned from the readings and other assigned material.  six to ten (out of 10)

Professionalism

This course will uphold professional standards, which means functioning as if we are in a newsroom.

That means treating your colleagues with respect during discussions and attending class on time.  I will ensure that you have “a learning environment that is safe, free from harassment and discrimination…characterized by mutual respect, inclusivity and civility (and)is free from interference and disruption…”, as articulated in the TMU policy.

There will also be regular correspondence between instructors and students. The expectation will be that the correspondence will be acknowledged as promptly as possible, as would be the case in a newsroom.

There is also an expectation that you read the information about each assignment carefully to ensure you submit the necessary elements. We will review the assignments in class. However, if you STILL find anything confusing, it is up to you to seek clarification. You’ll be expected to submit all the necessary elements for each assignment.

There will also be technical requirements, mainly downloading software such as Tableau and DocumentCloud. You will have to perform these tasks upon receiving instructions and making sure you are ready for the next class. If you’ve having problems, you’ll be expected to communicate with the instructor or TA, who will offer prompt assistance.

You will be required to have Excel, which can be obtained at no cost from Microsoft using your student number; You should also have access to Acrobat Pro, as opposed to the reader. The former makes it easier to analyze the document.

This mark will be assigned on the following basis:

  • No acknowledgment of correspondence and failure to follow instructions for assignments and does not install the required software on on time. 2 to 5 (out of 10)
  • Occasional acknowledgment of correspondence and some effort to follow instructions for assignments and install the required software on on time. 2 to 6 (out of 10)
  • Prompt acknowledgment of correspondence and prompt attention to following instructions for assignments, installing the required software on on time, and asking help when required. 7 to 10 (out of 10)

Class Meetings

A detailed week-by-week schedule accompanies this syllabus. We will spend time discussing journalistic methods, the readings, and writing. Core reporting and writing skills will be introduced in lectures and activities accompanied by supporting materials. I’ll offer in-class critiques of completed work, but anonymity will be protected. During the semester you will have a variety of marked assignments.

In most cases you can expect marked assignments to returned within two weeks.

If the instructor must adjust lectures, assignments or schedule, you will be advised in advance, via a group email, or an announcement  on D2L.  This may include additional readings related to just-breaking events.

Late Assignments

Professional journalists work in an environment of constant deadlines. We’ll do the same. Any assignment handed in after deadline will be marked down one point for all or part of every 24 hours that it is late. For instance, if your mark on the story is 16/20 but if you are six hours late, your final mark will be 15/20.  Another example: If you get 8/10 on an assignment but hand it in 36 hours late, your final mark will be 6/10.

Missed Term Work or Examinations

Health Certificate:

If you will miss an assignment, test or examination due to illness, you should let your instructor know in advance and then submit an Academic Consideration Request Form within three working days of the missed assessment. If you’re a BJ. student, this form should go to the J-School’s Academic and Outreach Coordinator; MJ students should submit the documentation to MJ Program Administrator.

If this happens only once per semester, you will NOT have to provide a health certificate or other documentation from a health-care provider — the University’s new policy on missed assessments indicates that students need a health certificate signed by a physician only if they miss more than one assignment, test or examination in a course in a single semester. If you are going to miss a second assessment, please let me know in advance or ASAP after the fact.

Missed Term Work or Examinations – with Accommodation Letters: Students are expected to complete all assignments within the time frames and by the dates indicated in this outline. If you need accommodations according to Policy 159: Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities, the student and instructor must discuss any modifications as soon as possible.

Missed Term Work  without Accommodation Letters:  Exemptions or deferral of an assignment  is only/may permitted for a medical or personal emergency or religious observance. Please provide documentation as below:

Religious, Aboriginal, and Spiritual Observance: For accommodations based on medical or religious, Aboriginal, and spiritual observance reasons, a Request for Accommodation of Student Religious, Aboriginal and Spiritual Observance form and an Academic Consideration Request form must be submitted within the first two weeks of class or, for a final examination, within two weeks of the posting of the examination schedule.

Plagiarism

Ethical and truthful work

Consult the School of Journalism Handbook for Student Reporters for guidance on best practices for ethical reporting on a wide range of issues/in different situations.

All work you submit must be entirely your own. Penalties for fabrication, plagiarism or other forms of cheating will range from failing an assignment to failing the course and will include a disciplinary notice being placed on your academic record.

You are required to adhere to the University’s Academic Integrity policy which covers plagiarism and other transgressions. It is at:

http://www.torontomu.ca/senate/policies/pol60.pdf

Sources: Unless explicitly permitted by me, you may not use close friends, relatives, bosses or other journalism students as sources. You must tell me if there is any emotional or financial involvement, or any other potential conflict of interest with a source. Every source must be available for fact checking.

Course Information

The following section addresses course-specific issues and general information about student access and support.

Departmental Policies and Course Practices

To learn more about course management expectations, please review Toronto Metropolitan University’s Course Management Policy No.166

Student safety while reporting: I know you are all adventurous journalists who want to get the story by going where the story is happening so you can bear witness and gather information. But please always keep your personal safety in mind while reporting. Always leave a situation or interaction in which you feel unsafe or harassed. Avoid going into private residences on your own, and make sure someone always knows where you are while reporting. If you are reporting a story that involves listening to accounts of traumatic events, be sure to check in with yourself often and take breaks. Speak to me if you have a story that you think requires some planning around health and safety and I will be happy to assist.

Accessibility

Toronto Metropolitan University’s Student Learning Support office will work confidentially and directly with you if you have temporary and permanent disabilities that impact your academic functioning; your rights and responsibilities are outlined here:

Toronto Metropolitan University Senate Policy for Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities No. 159.

If you request to send me an accommodation letter, please contact me as soon as possible so we can discuss any necessary arrangements to assignments or issues related to the course.

Student Email

All students in full and part-time graduate and undergraduate degree programs and all continuing education students are required to activate and maintain their University online identity at torontomu.ca/accounts in order to regularly access Toronto Metropolitan University’s email, RAMSS, the my.torontomu.ca portal and learning management system, and other systems by which they will receive official university communications.

Announcements relevant to class content/course management will be made via group emails.

Specific Details on IT Requirements

For minimum tech requirements to take this class see: https://www.ryerson.ca/covid-19/students/minimum-technology-requirements-remote-learning/

TMU offers fantastic resources to guide your ongoing independent learning. This is good news particularly for those of you who find yourself on the extreme ends of the spectrum when it comes to technology—whether you’re someone who’s been writing code and editing video since age 10 OR whether you still don’t know how to use the camera on your phone, there are resources you can use to move forward on the tech skills front. You can find those resources at insession.journalism.ryerson.ca (once you click on the link, you should sign in for full access). You can also log into my.ryerson.ca and click on Apps, then scroll to the bottom of the screen and select LinkedIn Learning. A subscription to this resource ordinarily costs a minimum of $25/month, but it’s free for TMU students. You’ll find video tutorials on a broad range of subjects of interest to J-students, from page layout to Photoshop to photography basics to DSLR video and much, much more.

Student Support and Assistance

If you are experiencing technical or administrative issues with your course, help is available by completing the Ask J-School Now form.

The University offers services to address a broad range of common challenges students face. Don’t hesitate to ask your instructor for assistance connecting with any of these great resources.

There is a wide range of other services available to students; if you need any kind of assistance, PLEASE just ask—ask your instructor, the course lecturer, TA, the student affairs coordinator or any other J-School instructor or staff member.

In addition to the University’s services and supports, Good2Talk is a free, confidential helpline providing professional counselling and information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being to post-secondary students in Ontario, 24/7/365. Students can reach Good2Talk by calling 1-866-925-5454 or by dialing 2-1-1 and asking to be connected to Good2Talk.

This is a demanding program; our expectations are high and the standards are rigorous. But please know that, when you encounter problems, we are here to help. For that reason, you should never hesitate to reach out.

Weekly Schedule

Virtual

Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFAqBSM5zxs

Alina’s week 1 – Overview.pdf
http://www.davidmckie.com/Alinas week 1 – Overview.pdf

Week 1 – Introduction to access-to-information

03/09/2024

What you will learn

What the Reporting Methods course is all about;

The basics of access to information;

The difference between formal and informal requests;

How to make an informal access-to-information request.

Links

The problem with the province’s crime stats and closing supervised consumption sites
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/what-do-crime-stats-actually-say-about-the-supervised-consumption-site-at-somerset-west

The problem with the provinces crime stats and closing supervised consumption sites.pdf

CBC head ‘blindsided’ staff with comments on broadcaster’s future, Poilievre: emails
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/cbc-head-blindsided-staff-with-comments-on-broadcaster-s-future-poilievre-emails-1.6490743

Documents Released in Answer to ATI Requests of General Interest
(The requester is seeking all records that address the interview the CEO carried out with the Globe and Mail newspaper, dated between February 7, 2023 and April 17, 2023_A-2023-00005 – “miscellaneous” category)
https://cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/impact-and-accountability/access-to-information/documents-released

CBC head ‘blindsided’ staff with comments on broadcaster’s future, Poilievre: email 
https://site-cbc.radio-canada.ca/documents/impact-and-accountability/ati/misc/2023/A-2023-00005.pdf

Blindsided reference in the internal emails uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25082001-a-2023-00005#document/p14/a2584632

CBC staff concerns contained in email exchanges obtained through an access-to-information request
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25082001-a-2023-00005#document/p3/a2584631

Question Period Notes
https://search.open.canada.ca/en/qp/

Completed Access to Information Requests
https://open.canada.ca/en/search/ati?_ga=2.69692565.406018153.1536604353-1818651053.1522773341

Open by Default
https://theijf.org/open-by-default

Open Government – Proactive disclosure and access to information
https://open.canada.ca/en

Secret Canada – The Globe and Mail’s access-to-information search tool
https://www.secretcanada.com/

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Access to Information and Privacy Coordinators
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/atip-aiprp/apps/coords/index-eng.asp

Information about programs and holdings
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/access-information-privacy/access-information/information-about-programs-information-holdings.html

Access to Information: general info
https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/hgw-cgf/oversight-surveillance/atip-aiprp/ai/index-eng.asp

Access to Information request forms
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/tbsf-fsct/350-57_e.asp

epost Connect
https://www.canadapost.ca/cpc/en/business/postal-services/digital-mail/epost-connect.page

PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES

Alberta
http://www.servicealberta.ca/foip/

British Columbia
Main: http://www.gov.bc.ca/citz/iao/foi/
Completed requests:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/search?id=4BAD1D13C68243D1960FECBBF7B8B091

Manitoba
Main: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/fippa/
Completed requests: https://www.manitoba.ca/openmb/infomb/fippa.html
Proactive disclosure:
https://www.manitoba.ca/openmb/index.html
https://manitoba.ca/openmb/infomb/departments/index.html

New Brunswick
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/finance/office_of_the_chief_information_officer/content/rti.html

Newfoundland and Labrador
Main: http://www.atipp.gov.nl.ca/info/accessrequestform.html
Completed requests: http://atipp-search.gov.nl.ca/

Northwest Territories
https://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/en/access-to-information-held-by-public-bodies/

Nova Scotia
Info: http://novascotia.ca/is/programs-and-services/information-access-and-privacy.asp
File a request online: https://iaprequest.novascotia.ca/
Completed requests: https://beta.novascotia.ca/search-previously-released-information-freedom-information-and-protection-privacy-foipop-request

The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia
http://www.nsrighttoknow.ca/

Nunavut
http://www.gov.nu.ca/eia/information/how-place-atipp-request

Ontario
https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-make-freedom-information-request

Prince Edward Island
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/justice-and-public-safety/freedom-information-and-protection-privacy-foipp

Quebec
Main: http://www.cai.gouv.qc.ca/english/

Saskatchewan
http://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/justice-crime-and-the-law/your-rights-and-the-law/make-a-freedom-of-information-request

Yukon
Main: http://www.atipp.gov.yk.ca/
Completed requests: https://open.yukon.ca/data/sites/default/files/20200800-Release.pdf

CITIES

Calgary
https://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-clerks/Pages/Information-Access-Privacy/FOIP-request.aspx
Information disclosure: https://www.calgary.ca/ca/city-clerks/legislative-services/confidential-information-release.html

Edmonton
http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/city_organization/freedom-of-information-and-privacy.aspx

Fredericton
http://www.fredericton.ca/en/right-to-information-and-protection-of-privacy

Halifax Regional Municipality http://www.halifax.ca/AccessPrivacy/index.php
Completed requests: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/accountability-transparency/access-information/completed-requests

Hamilton
http://www.hamilton.ca/CityDepartments/CorporateServices/Clerks/MFIPPA_adn_PHIPA.htm

Moncton
https://www.moncton.ca/my-govt-work/right-information-and-protection-privacy-act

Montreal
http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=5798,39687582&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Ottawa
Main: http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/your-city-government/access-information-and-privacy
Completed requests: https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/accountability-and-transparency/accountability-framework/freedom-information-and-protection-privacy/disclosure-mfippa-requests

Regina
Main: https://www.regina.ca/city-government/administration/office-of-the-city-clerk/#outline-access-to-information-and-protection-of-privacy
Completed requests: http://open.regina.ca/group/freedom-of-information

Saskatoon
https://www.saskatoon.ca/city-hall/send-comments-concerns-city/freedom-information

Toronto
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/access-city-information-or-records/freedom-of-information/

Completed requests: https://open.toronto.ca/dataset/freedom-of-information-requests-summary/

Vancouver
Main: http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/foi/index.htm
Completed requests: http://vancouver.ca/your-government/information-released-through-foi-requests-this-year.aspx

Winnipeg
Main: http://winnipeg.ca/clerks/fippa/
Completed requests: http://winnipeg.ca/clerks/fippa/AccessToInfo.stm

COMPLETED ACCESS REQUESTS

Federal
https://open.canada.ca/en/search/ati

CBC 
https://cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/impact-and-accountability/access-to-information/list-of-ati-requests-processed-by-cbc-radio-canada

British Columbia 
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/search?id=4BAD1D13C68243D1960FECBBF7B8B091

Vancouver 
http://vancouver.ca/your-government/information-released-through-foi-requests-this-year.aspx

Manitoba
https://www.manitoba.ca/openmb/infomb/departments.html
https://www.manitoba.ca/openmb/infomb/fippa.html

Winnipeg 
http://winnipeg.ca/clerks/fippa/AccessToInfo.stm#1

Regina (Note: not all are freedom-of-information responses) 
http://open.regina.ca/group/freedom-of-information

Ottawa
https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/accountability-and-transparency/accountability-framework/freedom-information-and-protection-privacy/disclosure-mfippa-requests

Nova Scotia
https://informationaccess.novascotia.ca/

Halifax
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/accountability-transparency/access-information/completed-requests

Newfoundland 
http://atipp-search.gov.nl.ca/

Yukon 
https://open.yukon.ca/data/sites/default/files/20200800-Release.pdf

Readings
Chapter 10 Digging Deeper – Getting Behind Closed Doors: Using the Information Laws, page 237

Additional resources 
Dean Beeby’s access-to-information tipsheet.pdf

Example of an Ontario request:
http://www.davidmckie.com/Ontario%20Data%202018%20Request.pdf

Week 2 – Access-to-information part two

In-person

10/09/2024

Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xl9K5qpYDU

Alina’s class summary
http://www.davidmckie.com/FOI Memo JN 8103 2024.pdf

What you will learn

Review stories from access-to-information Google Alerts and other access-to-information stories;

More on crafting an access-to-information request;

Making a formal request;

Review Dean Beeby’s tipsheet;

Details of the access-to-information assignment;

Signing for DocumentCloud if we have time.

Links

Info Source: List of federal institutions
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/access-information-privacy/access-information/info-source/list-institutions.html

Making a provincial freedom-of-information request
https://www.ontario.ca/page/freedom-information-request#section-1

Ontario freedom-of-information request forms
https://forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca/en/dataset/on00089

National Newswatch
https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/

We will not lie’: senior officials pushed back against Alberta government requests
https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-renewables-documents-officials-pushback/
https://x.com/thenarwhalca/status/1831693905575727106
https://x.com/SPhillipsAB/status/1831852748389888256

28 months after FOI request, St. Catharines still has not released chemical testing data for contaminated former GM site slated for residential development
https://thepointer.com/article/2024-09-04/28-months-after-foi-request-st-catharines-still-has-not-released-chemical-testing-data-for-contaminated-former-gm-site-slated-for-residential-development

Ontario dropped wastewater testing early, with no plan for feds to step in: documents
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ontario-dropped-wastewater-testing-early-with-no-plan-for-feds-to-step-in-documents

Ontario dropped waster testing early, with no plan for feds to step in: documents – PDF-verson
http://www.davidmckie.com/Ontario pulled plug on wastewater test.pdf

Poverty on the rise: memo for Trudeau

Trudeau memo released to Dean Beeby through access to information
http://www.davidmckie.com/Pm_Memo_On_Financial_Situation_Of_Households.pdf

Trudeau memo released to Dean Beeby through access to information uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25091687-pm_memo_on_financial_situation_of_households

Strained RCMP resources mean a ‘delicate balance’ on protecting MPs: internal memo
https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/politics/strained-rcmp-resources-mean-a-delicate-balance-on-protecting-mps-internal-memo-1.7006909

Criminal intelligence reports, memos, briefs concerning the general phenomenon of threats to the PM, Parliamentarians, prominent politicians.pdf

RCMP ATIP records uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25084272-rcmp-july-31-2024-formal-release-to-jim-bronskill-of-criminal-intelligence-reports-memos-briefs-concerning-the-general-phenomenon-of-threats-to-the-pm-parliamentarians-and-prominent-politicians_a-2024-01087

Fires of 2023 burn holes in tourism operator pockets
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/08/19/news/tourism-industry-still-feeling-effects-worst-fire-year-record

Fires of 2023 burn holes in tourism operator pockets _ Canada’s National Observer_ Climate News.pdf

Innovation, Science and Economic Development wildfire access-to-information request
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25082032-innovation-science-and-economic-development-canada-july-31-2024-formal-release-of-briefing-note-re-impact-of-wildfires-on-tourism-in-canada_a-2024-00555-hw

Information About Programs and Information Holdings (formerly Info Source)
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/access-information-privacy/access-information/information-about-programs-information-holdings/sources-federal-government-employee-information.html

Open Government – Proactive disclosure and access to information
https://open.canada.ca/en

Search Briefing Note Titles and Numbers
https://search.open.canada.ca/en/bn/

Secret UFO memo sent to Canadian PM Justin Trudeau over mystery object shot down over Yukon in February
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12500215/Secret-UFO-memo-sent-Canadian-PM-Justin-Trudeau-mystery-object-shot-Yukon-February.html

Read ‘Secret’ memo for Trudeau on unidentified object shot down over Yukon
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/read-secret-memo-for-trudeau-on-unidentified-object-shot-down-over-yukon-1.6548510

The Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS)
https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/publications/aviation-safety-letter/issue-2-2021/civil-aviation-daily-occurrence-reporting-system-cadors

CADORS main menu
https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/cadors-screaq/m.aspx

Mounties eyeing change to recreational cannabis use policy for members
https://www.firstpost.com/world/secret-memo-about-shooting-down-a-ufo-sent-to-justin-trudeau-in-feb-becomes-public-13106042.html

RCMP cannabis briefing note uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23961677-rcmp-aug-28-2023-informal-release-of-briefing-note-on-cannabis-use__a-2023-08643

Ottawa warns LGBTQ travellers they could be hit by U.S. state laws
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/global-affairs-lgbt-unitedstates-warning-1.6950833

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics
https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/lgbt-travel

LGBTQ access-to-information request
http://www.davidmckie.com/LGBTQ travel U.S. travel advisory_A-2023-01693.pdf

Ontario must prepare for growing threat of extreme heat: report
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/09/14/news/ontario-must-prepare-growing-threat-extreme-heat-report

One year after taking on new name, Toronto Metropolitan University reflects on change
https://bit.ly/3ZqsWVd

One year after taking on new name, Toronto Metropolitan University reflects on chan – PDF version
http://www.davidmckie.com/TMU reflects on change.pdf

Records on policing Indigenous communities
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22416959-national-police-federation-on-serving-indigenous-communities

A new CSIS ad campaign is using Soviet-style imagery to warn Canadians about disinformation
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-disinformation-ads-soviet-imagery-1.6955717

Briefing note titles and numbers
https://search.open.canada.ca/briefingt/

Question Period notes
https://search.open.canada.ca/qpnotes/

Question Period note: Labour exploitation in procurement
https://search.open.canada.ca/qpnotes/record/pwgsc-tpsgc,PSPC-2021-QP-00008

A shopping list of key records

20 records you can get using the federal Access to Information Act

1. RECORD: Ministerial briefing notes. DEPARTMENT: All departments. ASK FOR: All briefing notes prepared specifically to help the new minister become acquainted with his/her new portfolio. HINT: Make this request a week or two after a new cabinet is named. RESULT: Yields wide range of information about a department’s plans/activities.

2. RECORD: Expense claims. DEPARTMENT: All departments/agencies. ASK FOR: Receipts, invoices and guest lists detailing travel and hospitality expenses claimed by a deputy minister or other senior bureaucrat that are more detailed than the ones you’ll find in the information federal institutions are obliged to file on line. HINT: Limit request to no more than one year’s worth of claims.RESULT: Can reveal spending habits and establish dates of key meetings, dealings. Remember former federal heritage minister Bev Oda’s $16-dollar glass of orange juice!

3. RECORD: Correspondence. DEPARTMENT: All departments/agencies. ASK FOR: Correspondence with a minister or agency head on a topic of interest. HINT: Frame request narrowly. For instance, exclude letters from the public if you do not require them. RESULT: Can uncover letters from provincial premiers, lobby groups.

4. RECORD: House cards. DEPARTMENT: All departments. ASK FOR: All cards prepared for the minister in the House of Commons on a specific issue. HINT: Watch headlines, Commons debates for ideas. RESULT: Often contain much more detail, background than revealed in Question Period.

5. RECORD: Material on possible legislation. DEPARTMENT: All departments. ASK FOR: Records concerning possible legislation or other initiatives on a given issue. HINT: Limit request to cover the last year to ensure currency of material. RESULT: Provides insight into initiatives that might be in pipeline, and reasons why the initiatives might (or might not) proceed.

6. RECORD: Meeting minutes. DEPARTMENT: All departments/agencies. ASK FOR: Minutes from the two most recent meetings of a specific committee. HINT: Make calls to find out meeting schedules and whether minutes are kept. RESULT: Can aid in understanding internal policy debates and decisions.

7. RECORD: Audits. DEPARTMENT: All departments, most agencies. ASK FOR: Audits and evaluations completed by or for the department/agency on specific subjects in the last year. HINT: Ask department informally for list of audits conducted in the last year. RESULT: Audits often reveal shortcomings in programs, policies.

8. RECORD: Polls. DEPARTMENT: All departments, but especially Privy Council Office. ASK FOR: Polls conducted for the department on a given subject. HINT: Some (but not all) polls are released informally. RESULT: Can reveal public attitudes towards government policies.

9. RECORD: Contract information. DEPARTMENT: All departments. ASK FOR: A copy of the contract for a specific project such as the federal government’s beleaguered Phoenix pay system. HINT: Public Services and Procurement Canada administers many contracts, including Phoenix. RESULT: Reveals details of financial arrangements with private companies.

10. RECORD: Responses to discussion papers. DEPARTMENT: Any department that publishes consultation/discussion paper. ASK FOR:Copies of all submissions in response to the department’s paper. HINT: Put in request just after cut-off date for submissions. Only narrow request if certain submissions are required. RESULT: Reveals views of wide cross-section of groups on pressing issues.

11. RECORD: Contracted studies. DEPARTMENT: Privy Council Office. ASK FOR: Specific studies, research conducted for PCO. HINT: Ask informally for list of studies, which is updated regularly. RESULT: Yields advice prepared for government on unity, security, parliamentary affairs and other key issues.

12. RECORD: 20-year-old cabinet documents. DEPARTMENT: Privy Council Office. ASK FOR: Cabinet records on a specific issue. HINT:Check almanac for noteworthy past events. RESULT: Meeting minutes reveal thinking of ministers on issues. (Cabinet documents routinely become public only after 30 years).

13. RECORD: Prime Minister’s email. DEPARTMENT: Privy Council Office. ASK FOR: E-mail sent to the Prime Minister by visitors to his website. HINT: Limit request to a one-week period. RESULT: Names of correspondents are deleted, but letters yield an interesting mix of feedback, including light-hearted, angry and thoughtful correspondence.

14. RECORD: Criminal intelligence briefs. AGENCY: RCMP. ASK FOR: Criminal intelligence briefs prepared during the last six months. HINT:Make time-frame the last couple of years if you are seeking a brief on a specific subject. RESULT: Briefs cover issues such as aboriginal militancy, drug trade and smuggling.

15. RECORD: Incident reports. AGENCY: RCMP. ASK FOR: Incident report on a specific event. HINT: Broaden request to include other records if incident is a prolonged one, such as a standoff. RESULT: Can help explain police decision-making.

16. RECORD: Lessons learned. DEPARTMENT: National Defence. ASK FOR: “Lessons learned” from major military missions. HINT: Wait a month or two after mission is complete. RESULT: Provides evaluation of peacekeeping tours and other assignments.

17. RECORD: UFO reports. DEPARTMENT: Transport. ASK FOR: Reports of unidentified flying objects filed by the public. HINT: UFO reports are also often filed with Defence and RCMP. RESULT: Names of people who make reports are deleted, but other details can be released.

18. RECORD: Observer reports. DEPARTMENT: Fisheries. ASK FOR: Observer reports prepared for the department. HINTS: Limit request to specific geographic area and time frame. RESULTS: Can provide details about operations of foreign vessels.

19. RECORD: SIRC reports. AGENCY: Security Intelligence Review Committee. ASK FOR: Specific reports prepared by committee on CSIS activities. HINT: Reports are listed in back of committee’s annual report. RESULT: Reports, though heavily edited, provide check on spy agency CSIS.

20. RECORD: CRTC debriefing notes. AGENCY: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. ASK FOR: Debriefing notes prepared in connection with a specific licensing hearing. HINT: Make request shortly after licence decision is made. RESULT: Can provide behind-the-scenes reasoning on why TV, radio licences are granted or denied.

Ten ways to improve your searches

1. Look to the headlines for ideas.

2. Check the relevant federal websites for forms, contacts, info on departmental holdings.

3. Call the access co-ordinator before making your request.

4. Call the co-ordinator after submitting your request.

5. Make similar requests to more than one department, agency or government.

6. Keep a photocopy or scan of each request and attach all return correspondence.

7. Negotiate with departments, agencies or governments.

8. Be persistent. If necessary, complain.

9. Read and re-read the records you receive carefully.

10. Don’t get discouraged.

Readings
Chapters 1, 2, 3 The Data Journalist

Assignments
Review these Statistics Canada tutorials

Resources

Click here to see a complete example of federal, provincial and municipally-based access-to-information requests required for the assignment.

Click here to see an example of a formal federal access-to-information request.

Click here to see an example of a provincial request.

Click here to see an example of a municipal-based request

Dean Beeby’s blog about journalism and transparency
https://www.deanbeeby.ca/blog

Dean Beeby’s access-to-information tipsheet.pdf

Week 3 – Learning about open data

Class recordings – parts  one and two

Sept 11, 2024, JN 8103 Reporting and Data Methods for Journalists Section 011 Fall 2024 1
Part One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe06cz5f2X4
Part two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZMAQMbzK9w

Virtual

17/09/2024

What you will learn

Creating a DocumentCloud account
Reviewing access-to-information requests;
The concept of open data;
How to download and analyse Statistics Canada tables, filtering, sorting and building pivot tables;
How to use the same techniques to analyze data on other open-data sites.

Links

DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/home
https://next.www.documentcloud.org/
https://next.www.documentcloud.org/documents/2622-agreement-between-conservatives-and-liberal-democrats-to-form-a-coalition-government/?mode=document#document/p1/a549
Search Documentation | DocumentCloud

These dangerous health products were supposed to be pulled from shelves. A popular Ontario retailer sold them to us anyway
https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/these-dangerous-health-products-were-supposed-to-be-pulled-from-shelves-a-popular-ontario-retailer/article_66769429-cf78-530f-9065-6a76565dafe9.html

https://www.perplexity.ai/

National Newswatch
https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/

Canada’s inflation rate fell to 2% in August, hitting Bank of Canada’s target
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/inflation-bank-of-canada-target-1.7325365

Consumer Price Index, August 2024
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240917/dq240917a-eng.htm

Consumer Price Index: Interactive app
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/2018016/cpilg-ipcgl-eng.htm

Conservatives 42, Liberals 25, NDP 22 > Canadians most concerned about jobs/the
economy and inflation
https://nanos.co/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Political-Package-2024-09-13-FOR-RELEASE.pdf

Trudeau loses another Liberal stronghold in Bloc Québécois byelection victory, while the NDP maintains its Winnipeg stronghold
https://nationalnewswatch.com/2024/09/17/trudeau-loses-another-liberal-stronghold-in-bloc-quebecois-byelection-victory

StatCan release schedules

Statistics Canada’s data tables

Canada’s unemployment rate rose in August amid tough summer job market
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-jobs-sept-2024-1.7315234

Alberta’s unemployment rate spiked in July, Edmonton’s too
https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/alberta-s-unemployment-rate-spiked-in-july-edmonton-s-too-1.7027987

Canada’s unemployment rate hits 7-year high in August
https://globalnews.ca/news/10736478/jobs-unemployment-canada-august-2024/

Labour Force Survey, August 2024
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240906/dq240906a-eng.htm

Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months (for August 2024)
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1410028701

Labour force characteristics by immigrant status, three-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410008201

Resources

Uploading documents to DocumentCloud tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_d0zsw6hhQ&feature=youtu.be

Assignment

Upload test PDFs to DocumentCloud

 

Week 4 – Open data part two

Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBaMlGt4_X4

Virtual

24/09/2024

What you will learn

A continuation of working with datasets from Statistics Canada

Links

Alina’s Overall Notes FOI-ATIP assignment.pdf

Alina’s note for next week’s quiz

Information Commissioner’s Statement for Right to Know Week 2024
https://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/en/resources/news-releases/information-commissioners-statement-right-know-week-2024

‘A horrible way to experience health care’: Hallway medicine not going away, despite political promises
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/a-horrible-way-to-experience-healthcare-hallway-medicine-not-going-away-despite-political-promises

Hallway healthcare is not going away, despite promises _ Ottawa Citizen.pdf

Hospital data shows Ontario’s hallway health care problem is worse than ever
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/health/hospital-data-shows-ontarios-hallway-health-care-problem-is-worse-than-ever-9370235

Internal Ontario government traffic forecast shows crushing gridlock ahead — even with the 413
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/internal-ontario-government-traffic-forecast-shows-crushing-gridlock-ahead-even-with-the-413-9356033

Overtime pay for federal civil servants swells even as head counts rise
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-overtime-pay-for-federal-civil-servants-swells-even-as-head-counts/

Overtime pay for federal civil servants swells even as head counts rise – The Globe and Mail.pdf

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25166918-globe-and-mail-federal-public-servant-overtime-story-and-accompanying-sessional-paper-story-is-based-on

Sessional Paper catalogue
https://parl-gc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,%3F&tab=SESSIONAL&search_scope=SESSIONPAP&vid=01CALP_INST:01CALP&lang=en&offset=0

Canada’s inflation rate fell to 2% in August, hitting Bank of Canada’s target
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/inflation-bank-of-canada-target-1.7325365

Consumer Price Index, August 2024
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240917/dq240917a-eng.htm

Consumer Price Index: Interactive app
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/2018016/cpilg-ipcgl-eng.htm

Open data portals
http://www.davidmckie.com/open-data-portals/

Assignments

Review material from the first four weeks to prepare for next week’s in-class quiz;
Download Tableau using the codes you have been emailed;

Readings
The Data Journalist – Chapter 8

Week 5 – Introduction to data visualizations

01/10/2024

Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqWLxdl7VAw

Virtual

What you will learn

In-class quiz;
Access-to-information assignment feedback;
Continue working with the Consumer Price Index data from the previous week, reviewing, downloading, filtering sorting and progressing to pivot tables;
A discussion of the concept of visualizing data;
Download Tableau and review examples;
How we data to help tell stories.

Links

Consumer Price Index – Statistics Canada visualization tool
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/2018016/cpilg-ipcgl-eng.htm

British Columbia FOI
https://canadafoi.ca/british-columbia-foi/
https://canadafoi.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BC-news-index-update-preface.-Sept.-25.-2024.pdf
https://canadafoi.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Best-B.C.-FOI-news-stories-2021-2024.pdf

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25177004-treasury-board-secretariat-sept-27-2024-formal-release-of-bn-to-tb-president-approval-of-trust-and-transparency-strategy-and-the-access-to-information-modernization-action-plan_a-2024-01381-rc

Parole board warned employees about threats following Saskatchewan stabbings: emails
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24017351-parole-board-of-canada-oct-4-2023-informal-release-of-emails-re-myles-sanderson_a-2022-00023

Machine-sortable format: Parole decisions from 2011 through 2021
http://www.davidmckie.com/A-2022-00017 Response.xlsx

‘We’re ashamed’: Canada’s information watchdogs sign joint pact, urging governments to fix FOI systems
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-were-ashamed-canadas-information-watchdogs-sign-joint-pact-urging/

‘We’re ashamed’: Canada’s information watchdogs sign joint pact, urging governments to fix FOI systems – PDF version
http://www.davidmckie.com/Were ashamed_ Canadas information w…pdf

‘The exact same problem as the Greenbelt’: Doug Ford hammered over changes to municipal boundaries
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/the-exact-same-problem-as-the-greenbelt-doug-ford-hammered-over-changes-to-municipal-boundaries/article_e9875287-9f6e-55f1-9140-a61864d0440d.html

The exact same problem as the Greenbelt’: Doug Ford hammered over changes to municipal boundaries – PDF version
http://davidmckie.com/Doug Ford hammered over changing municipal boundaries.pdf

Canada added 64,000 jobs in September, led by Quebec and B.C.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-jobs-september-1.6988856

Labour Force Survey, September 2023
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231006/dq231006a-eng.htm?HPA=1

Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months1, 2, 3, 4
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410028701

Number of Canadians reporting financial stress jumps 20% in a year — report calls increase a ‘national emergency’
https://www.thestar.com/business/number-of-canadians-reporting-financial-stress-jumps-20-in-a-year-report-calls-increase-a/article_38211bfc-28ce-505d-9563-7ecd40f73e48.html

Number of Canadians reporting financial stress jumps 20% in a year — report calls increase a ‘national emergency’ – PDF version
http://www.davidmckie.com/Financial stress now a national emergency, new report finds.pdf

Canadian kids cost parents more than $350,000 from birth to 17, Statistics Canada study suggests
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/household-finances/article-expect-to-spend-more-than-350000-to-raise-a-child-in-canada-statistics/

Canadian kids cost parents more than $350,000 from birth to 17, Statistics Canada study suggests – PDF version
http://www.davidmckie.com/Canadian kids cost parents more than 350000.pdf

Parole board warned employees about threats following Saskatchewan stabbings: emails
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/parole-board-warned-employees-about-threats-following-saskatchewan-stabbings-emails

MPs to study Access to Information system, federal ‘culture of secrecy’
https://www.thestar.com/politics/2022/09/26/mps-to-study-access-to-information-system-federal-culture-of-secrecy.html

Tableau
https://public.tableau.com/en-us/s/

Datawraper
https://www.datawrapper.de/

Readings

Chapter 11 The Data Journalists Telling Stories With Data

Week 6 – Data visualization, part two

08/10/2024

Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdXDc8nw3Js

In-person

 

What you will learn

Continued discussion of data visualizations;
Continuation of visualizing with Tableau;
Detailed discussion of data-visualization assignment.

Links:

National Newswatch
hhttps://www.nationalnewswatch.com/

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25195137-public-prosecution-service-of-canada-oct-7-2024-informal-release-of-questionnaires-and-survey-results-2019-2020-2021-and-2022-aug-30_ai-2024-00136

ATIP A-2022-00319 Seized Assets to January 31_2023.xlsx

Ontario teacher shortage to worsen in 2027, ministry document warns
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-teacher-shortage-ministry-of-educaiton-1.7339837

More Ontario school boards in deficit, using reserves: ministry documents
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/school-boards-deficits-ontario-education-1.7341210

Federal, provincial and municipal responsibilities
ON-Secondary-Handout-5.2.pdf (civix.ca)
Home – CIVIX Canada
https://x.com/CIVIX_Canada

Canada’s Government: Municipal, Provincial, Federal – FREE Legal Information | Legal Line

STATUS OF HOUSE BUSINESS: PART III – WRITTEN QUESTIONS
https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/house/status-business/page-12

eResources – Toronto Metropolitan University Libraries (torontomu.ca)

Toronto Metropolitan University Libraries (torontomu.ca)

Meeting minutes examples
https://theijf.org/open-by-default/25136319
https://theijf.org/open-by-default/24426660

Auditors’ reports
Auditor General of Canada
https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/admin_e_41.html

Total cost of ArriveCan ‘impossible to determine’ due to poor record-keeping, AG report finds
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/auditor-general-report-arrivecan-1.7111043

Auditor General of  Canada ArriveCan investigation
https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_202402_01_e_44428.html
https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/docs/parl_oag_202402_01_e.pdf

AG ArriveCan audit uploaded to DocumentCloud and annotated
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25193606-parl_oag_202402_01_e#document/p27/a2592981

Office of the Auditor General of Ontario
https://www.auditor.on.ca/

Ontario government’s Greenbelt land swap influenced by well-connected developers, AG finds
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-auditor-general-greenbelt-report-1.6930390

Office of the Auditor General of Ontario Greenbelt report uploaded and annotated in DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25193607-greenbelt_en#document/p6/a2592982

told a different story

Crews said they were spending about four hours a shift maintaining city parks. GPS tracking

City crews not meeting park maintenance standards_ report.pdf

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25196009-city-of-toronto-audit_backgroundfile-249099

Competition Bureau makes recommendations to promote competition in Canada’s grocery industry
https://www.canada.ca/en/competition-bureau/news/2023/06/competition-bureau-makes-recommendations-to-promote-competition-in-canadas-grocery-industry.html

Written responses from organizations to the consultation on the Market study of retail grocery
https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/competition-bureau-canada/en/how-we-foster-competition/consultations/responses-consultation-market-study-retail-grocery

Open By Default
https://theijf.org/open-by-default

Question Period Notes
https://search.open.canada.ca/qpnotes/

Hansard Search – House of Commons
https://www.ourcommons.ca/PublicationSearch/en/?PubType=37

Ontario Hansard searches
https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/hansard-search

Sessional papers’ catalogue
https://bit.ly/3Fmk2yR

City of Toronto, council & committee meetings
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/council/council-committee-meetings/

Handgun crime stats – sessional paper
https://parl-gc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/delivery/01CALP_INST:01CALP/12152289400002616?lang=en

Ottawa announces special envoy on antisemitism and pledges new law on online hate
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canada-special-envoy-holocaust-remembrance/

Ottawa announces special envoy on antisemitism and pledges new law on online hate – PDF version
http://www.davidmckie.com/Ottawa announces special envoy on antisemitism and pledges new law on online hate.pdf

Orders In Council – Search
https://orders-in-council.canada.ca/

Statscan medium income release on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/CgxeqApLtVB/

Police-reported hate crimes rise again, as pandemic worsens discrimination: StatCan
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/police-reported-hate-crimes-rise-again-as-pandemic-worsens-discrimination-statcan-1.6325705

Infographic: Police-reported hate crime in Canada, 2021
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2023026-eng.htm

Hamilton Police Release 2022 Hate Crime Statistics
https://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/news/hamilton-police-release-2022-hate-crime-statistics/

Statistics Canda hate-crime datasets
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/type/data?text=police%20reported%20hate%20crimes&sort=releasedate&p=1-data/tables#tables

Police-reported hate crime, by type of motivation, Canada (selected police services)
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=3510006601

Police-reported hate crime, by most serious violation, Canada (selected police services) 
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=3510006701

Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2022
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230727/dq230727b-eng.htm

Incident-based crime statistics, by detailed violations, Canada, provinces, territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Canadian Forces Military Police
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3510017701

Hate crimes in Canada – 2022 – created using Tableau
http://www.davidmckie.com/category/digi-1examples/

Inflation cools to 3.8% in September. What that means for the Bank of Canada
https://globalnews.ca/news/10029648/canada-inflation-september-2023/

Police-reported crime in Canada, 2022
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2023041-eng.htm

Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2022
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230727/dq230727b-eng.htm

Documents reveal why RCMP didn’t pursue criminal probe of Justin Trudeau in SNC-Lavalin affair
https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/documents-reveal-why-rcmp-didn-t-pursue-criminal-probe-of-justin-trudeau-in-snc-lavalin/article_4cc03ad0-18ac-5e68-b4ba-edecf2f7897d.html

Ten downtown condo buildings have 50 or more short-term rentals like Airbnb, city data shows
https://www.thestar.com/real-estate/ten-downtown-condo-buildings-have-50-or-more-short-term-rentals-like-airbnb-city-data/article_e23188c3-2999-5d77-b9b3-4dd2e374d0fc.html

Short-term rentals – City of Toronto open-data portal
https://open.toronto.ca/dataset/short-term-rentals-registration/

Open data portals
http://www.davidmckie.com/open-data-portals/

Ten downtown condo buildings have 50 or more short-term rentals like Airbnb, city data shows – PDF version
http://www.davidmckie.com/Data shows Toronto condos with most Airbnbs.pdf

Resources

October 12, 2024 Alina’s JN 8103 Excel tutorial part one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcTutp3XhBo

October 12, 2024 Alina’s JN 8103 Tableau tutorial part two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOA0py-nCDo

October 12, 2024 Alina’s JN 8103 Tableau tutorial part three
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og4N_oZOUbM

Second tutorial using Statistics Canada’s larger crime dataset
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5OKDAzKWLA

Third tutorial downloading the City of Toronto’s 311 data to create a dashboard in Tableau
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISRx6nkvpMM

Fourth tutorial on creating an extract in Tableau
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAps8yMV7II

Uploading documents to DocumentCloud tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_d0zsw6hhQ&feature=youtu.be

Datasets for visualizations in Tableau

2023_311.zip

Dinesafe.zip

PropertyCrimes_theft_Hate3510017701.zip

Reading

Digging Deeper – Chapter 9, Following the Money

Week 7 – Reading week

Class recording

Oct 22, 2024, JN 8103 Reporting and Data Methods for Journalists Section 011 Fall 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcZLmkhKZX8

15/10/2024

Week 8- following money in publicly traded companies

22/10/2024

Alina’s public records tip sheet
https://www.davidmckie.com/Search tips for records.pdf

October 12, 2024 Alina’s JN 8103 Excel tutorial part one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcTutp3XhBo

October 12, 2024 Alina’s JN 8103 Tableau tutorial part two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOA0py-nCDo

 

October 12, 2024 Alina’s JN 8103 Tableau tutorial part three
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og4N_oZOUbM

Virtual

What you will learn

A review of Tableau fundamentals and discussion of the assignment which will ONLY be due once you  have completed the visualization to your satisfaction;
Discussion about the difference between monetary and fiscal policy;
The principles of following the money trail;
Discussing the differences between publicly traded and private companies — if we get to it

Links

Alina’s Oct 29 quiz prep questions
http://www.davidmckie.com/JN8103 Quiz 2 .pdf

National Newswatch
https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/

CJF launches Trust Wisely campaign for Media Literacy Week
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/cjf-launches-trust-wisely-campaign-for-media-literacy-week-846744371.html

Global Media and Information Literacy Week
https://www.unesco.org/en/weeks/media-information-literacy

Media Literacy Week: Protecting and empowering students in the digital age
https://www.ipc.on.ca/en/media-centre/blog/media-literacy-week-protecting-and-empowering-students-digital-age

CPI Index
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/2018016/cpilg-ipcgl-eng.htm

Bank of Canada
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/

Canada’s inflation eases to 1.6%, ups chances of 50 bps rate cut next week
https://www.reuters.com/markets/canada-inflation-slips-16-lower-gas-prices-2024-10-15/

Bank of Canada would be ‘justified’ cutting rates by half a point. Here’s why
https://globalnews.ca/news/10818503/bank-of-canada-october-rate-cut-possibilites/

Federal budget 2024
https://budget.canada.ca/home-en.html
https://budget.canada.ca/2024/home-accueil-en.html
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25100898-budget-2024

SEDAR
https://www.sedarplus.ca/landingpage/

Air Canada
https://media.aircanada.com/
https://investors.aircanada.com/

Air Canada stock price on Yahoo finance
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/quote/AC.TO/

Air Canada second quarter 2024
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25245642-q2_2024_air_canada_consolidated_financial_statements_notes_-_english

Air Canada Management’s Discussion and Analysis
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25245643-q2_2024_air_canada_mda_-_english

Air Canada reports second quarter 2024 financial results
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25245641-news-release

Resources

CPI_Sept 2019-Sept 2024_1810000401.xlsx

Beginners’ Guide to Financial Statements (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)
http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/begfinstmtguide.htm

Week 9 – Following money in publicly in public sector institutions – part two

Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLkULdZc0iU

In-person

29/10/2024

What you will  learn

Quiz based on the previous four weeks of open data and data visualization;
Following up from the previous week;
Discussion of the assignment in which you’ll asses a publicly traded company’s filing.

Links

A decline in Air Canada’s profits
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25245642-q2_2024_air_canada_consolidated_financial_statements_notes_-_english#document/p3/a2598961

Management explains Air Canada’s decrease in profits
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25245643-q2_2024_air_canada_mda_-_english#document/p8/a2598976

Resources

Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism
http://businessjournalism.org/

Week 10 – Decoding an access-to-information requests

Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AgUrxrCCq0

Virtual

05/11/2024

What you will learn

Quiz based on the following-the-money exercises from the previous two weeks;
Data-viz assignment feedback;
Access-to-information updates;
Learning how to decode records received through access-to-information requests;
Time permitting, a look at the data we’ll be using for the Facebook ad library data assignment.

Links

338Canada U.S. Presidential Projection
https://338canada.com/usa/

A murder conviction. Sex with an ex-client. Defending residential schools. Critics are alarmed at background of therapists approved for Indigenous mental health program
https://ijb.utoronto.ca/a-murder-conviction-sex-with-an-ex-client-defending-residential-schools-critics-are-alarmed-at-background-of-therapists-approved-for-indigenous-mental-health-program/

‘Deeply troubling’: Ontario chiefs call for reforms to federal health program after Star/IJB investigation
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/deeply-troubling-ontario-chiefs-call-for-reforms-to-federal-health-program-after-star-ijb-investigation/article_c6579a66-991f-11ef-a637-abcf30ca6adf.html

‘Deeply troubling’ health program prompts demand for reform.pdf

Canada’s Indigenous mental health program is meant to be a lifeline. Instead, it’s so mired in red tape it seems ‘set up to deter people from accessing’ care
https://ijb.utoronto.ca/news/canadas-indigenous-mental-health-program-is-meant-to-be-a-lifeline-instead-its-so-mired-in-red-tape-it-seems-set-up-to-deter-people-from-accessing-care/

Ford government knew of children’s aid struggles one year before ministry audit of the sector
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/ford-government-knew-of-childrens-aid-struggles-one-year-before-ministry-audit-of-the-sector/article_78ab9852-97cc-11ef-84b8-3f7f434c53ad.html

Exclusive: How a federal agency colluded with a pesticide maker to silence a Canadian researcher
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/10/17/news/federal-agency-colluded-bayer-pesticide-canadian-researcher

Health Canada briefing note uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25268964-health-canada-oct-15-2024-formal-release-of-bn-re-publication-of-notice-of-intent-to-consult-on-a-risk-management-strategy-respecting-benzene-emissions-from-gas-stations_a-2024-000679-mm1

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25268715-health-canada-oct-15-2024-formal-release-of-bn-re-publication-of-notice-of-intent-to-consult-on-a-risk-management-strategy-respecting-benzene-emissions-from-gas-stations_a-2024-000679-mm1

Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 158, Number 8: GOVERNMENT NOTICES
https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2024/2024-02-24/html/notice-avis-eng.html

Public Safety Canada ATI doc uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25269051-public-safety-canada-oct-15-2024-formal-release-of-bn-re-deputy-minister-response-to-ont-deputy-sol-gen-re-fire-safety-risk-of-non-certified-aftermarket-lithium-ion-batteries-and-rapid-chargers_a-2024-00167-ts

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25269051-public-safety-canada-oct-15-2024-formal-release-of-bn-re-deputy-minister-response-to-ont-deputy-sol-gen-re-fire-safety-risk-of-non-certified-aftermarket-lithium-ion-batteries-and-rapid-chargers_a-2024-00167-ts

Week 11 – introduction to Facebook’s ad library – part one

Virtual

Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F933W-aG4HI

12/11/2024

What you will learn

Discussion of Facebook ad library assignment. How to mine Facebook’s ad library for trends;
How to select the information you want and download the results;
Discuss examples of stories using materials from the ad library.

Links

National Newswatch
https://nationalnewswatch.com/

Disinformation and Polarization in The Age of AI— Are Democracies at a Tipping Point?https://nationalnewswatch.com/2024/11/12/disinformation-and-polarization-in-the-age-of-ai-are-democracies-at-a-tipping-point-2

‘Get election ready’: Liberals, Conservatives target base with early election warnings in Facebook ads
https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2024/10/21/liberals-conservatives-target-base-with-early-election-warnings-in-facebook-ads/438254/

Get election ready_ Liberals, Conservatives target base with early election warnings in Facebook ads – The Hill Times.pdf

Meta financial reports
https://investor.fb.com/investor-news/default.aspx

Facebook Ad Library
https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=all&ad_type=political_and_issue_ads&country=CA&media_type=all

Open Parliament
https://openparliament.ca/

Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 157, Number 35: Regulations Respecting the Application of the Online News Act, the Duty to Notify and the Request for Exemptions
https://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2023/2023-09-02/html/reg1-eng.html

The government’s online news bill can’t overcome its own flawed assumptions
https://thehub.ca/2023-09-04/opinion-the-governments-online-news-bill-cant-overcome-its-own-flawed-assumptions/

Canadian media trained audiences to use Facebook. With Meta blocking news, what’s next?https://www.cbc.ca/radio/sunday/canadian-media-news-meta-facebook-1.6939274

Liberal party launched over a dozen Facebook ads after government Meta boycott
https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/liberal-party-launched-over-a-dozen-facebook-ads-despite-government-ban

Alberta’s ‘national’ campaign to thwart electricity regulations heavily targeted at Albertans
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/albertas-national-campaign-to-thwart-electricity-regulations-heavily-targeted-at-albertans

Alberta MP lambastes Smith for ‘baseless,’ ‘ludicrous’ statements on power generation
https://bit.ly/3MrTH6r

Smith is snowing Albertans on renewables
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/09/08/opinion/smith-snowing-albertans-renewables

Bill C-18: An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada
https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-18

Doug Ford government paying for-profit clinic more than hospitals for OHIP-covered surgeries, documents show
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-doug-ford-private-clinic-surgeries-fees-hospitals-1.7026926

Resources

Facebook ad library dataset
http://www.davidmckie.com/Nov_01_to_16_FBAdLibrary_REVISED.xlsx

 

Week 12 – introduction to Facebook’s ad library – part two

Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVU4R_qyhto

Virtual

19/11/2024

What you will learn

Follow the money assignment feedback;
Discussion of Facebook ad library assignment and disinformation;
A deeper dive into additional public records:

Links:

https://whoisfreaks.com/

Wayback machine
https://web.archive.org/

Ontario releases 2023 Sunshine List, top earner made $1.9M
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/sunshine-list-ontario-2023-1.7158278

Ontario public salary disclosure
https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-sector-salary-disclosure

Ontario Salary disclosure_2023.xlsx

This migrant worker refused to take part in a Toronto auto shop’s ‘wage take-back’ scheme. He was fired. Then he fought back
https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/this-migrant-worker-refused-to-take-part-in-a-toronto-auto-shops-wage-take-back/article_c3b3b278-a120-11ef-8ba4-a745182bd01f.html

His Termination was a reprisal … plan and simple – Toronto Star.pdf

The Canadian Legal Information Institute  (a voluntary initiative and is not a comprehensive listing of all class action lawsuits currently underway in Canada)
https://www.canlii.org/en/

Class Action Database — Canadian Bar Association
https://www.cba.org/Publications-Resources/Class-Action-Database

Search for a report
https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/services/government-canada/public-opinion-research/pages/search-por-reports.aspx#a1

Parole board open to allowing victims’ families to confront Paul Bernardo at parole hearing
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bernarado-parole-board-mahaffy-french-1.7388417

Find out how to request a decision by the Parole Board of Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/parole-board/services/decision-registry.html

Paul Bernardo 2021 Parole Board hearing uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25365604-decision-clcc-copie-caviardee_2021-06-22_bernardo_paul_combined-document-with-request

Parole board warned employees about threats following Saskatchewan stabbings: emails
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/parole-board-warned-employees-about-threats-following-saskatchewan-stabbings-emails

Parole records reveal Saskatchewan suspect’s violent history
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/parole-stabbing-sask-sanderson-1.6573223

Parole records reveal Saskatchewan suspect’s violent history
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/parole-stabbing-sask-sanderson-1.6573223

Myles  Sanderson parole board decision
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24480199-myles-sanderson-parole-document

11 people died from heat in 2023, BC Coroners Service says on anniversary of 2021 heat dome
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/06/26/bc-coroners-service-heat-deaths-2023/#:~:text=In%20June%20and%20July%202021,warming%20limit%2C%20European%20agency%20says

BC Coroner – extreme heat warning
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22074225-extreme_heat_death_review_panel_report

BC Coroners Service
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/death/coroners-service

Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service
https://www.ontario.ca/page/office-chief-coroner-and-ontario-forensic-pathology-service#section-0

Housing Market Information Portal
https://www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/hmip-pimh/en#Profile/1/1/Canada

Canadian Institute for Health Information
https://www.cihi.ca/en

Have you been bankrupt? You could become Minister of National Revenue
http://www.davidmckie.com/have-you-been-bankrupt-you-could-become-minister-of-national-revenue/

Bankruptcy Filing

Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/bsf-osb.nsf/eng/home

Tutorial for conducting bankruptcy searches

Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 157, Number 35: Regulations Respecting the Application of the Online News Act, the Duty to Notify and the Request for Exemptions
https://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2023/2023-09-02/html/reg1-eng.html

CBC Poll Tracker
https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/poll-tracker/canada/

Week 13 – Postmortem

Final class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1pUzf_qcXA

26/11/2024

In-person

What you will learn

Review of the Facebook ad library assignment;
Continuation of deeper dive into public records;
Course postmortem and snacks.

Links:

Poilievre takes aim at Housing Accelerator Fund despite representing a city that’s already received $44-million from it
https://bit.ly/3APmMWM

Housing accelerator fund Sessional Paper
https://bit.ly/4hXwSpq

Canada ordered to address Jordan’s Principle backlog, find new solutions
https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/canada-ordered-to-address-jordans-principle-backlog-find-new-solutions/

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
https://www.chrt-tcdp.gc.ca/en

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal  – Canlii
https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/chrt/

Public Accounts of Canada
https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/recgen/cpc-pac/index-eng.html

Cases up, costs down: feds report $227.1-million in lost revenue, public money and property in 2021-22
https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2022/11/14/cases-up-costs-down-feds-report-227-1-million-in-lost-revenue-public-money-and-property-in-2021-22/355117/

http://www.davidmckie.com/Cases up, costs down – feds report $227.1-million in lost revenue, public money and property in 2021-22.pdf

Public Accounts of Canada Volume 111 uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23307718-2022-vol3-eng

Losses of Public Property as per the Public Accounts of Canada
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/eda3bce1-4866-45e4-9e13-ea98679e888f

Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
https://www.pbo-dpb.ca/en