Wednesdays: 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Location:
Classes 1 (Jan. 10) and 12 (April 3) will be held in Richcraft Hall Room 4115
Classes 2 through 11 will be held virtually and synchronously
David McKie, davidmckiec@gmail.com
Phone: (C) 613-290-7380
Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
David, Fred Vallance-Jones, Rob Cribb and Dean Jobb are co-authors of
Digging Deeper Third Edition
David McKie and Jim Bronskill are co-authors of
Your Right To Know: How to Use the Law to
Get Government Secrets
David and Fred are co-authors of
“The Data Journalist: Getting the Story“
Assignments and Evaluation | Course Schedule |Data Visualization |Backstory |Dollars and Sense story |Access-to-information assignment | Week one | Week two | Week three | Week four | Week five | Week six | Week seven | Week eight | Week nine | Week ten | Week eleven | Week twelve | |Tutorials | Datasets |
Course Objectives
1) Obtain a thorough grounding in journalistic research methods.
2) Acquire skills needed to make sense of the information gathered.
3) Develop the ability to shape the information into accurate and compelling stories for all platforms.
COVID-19 and the Classroom
All members of the Carleton community are required to follow COVID-19 prevention measures and all mandatory public health requirements (e.g. wearing a mask, physical distancing, hand hygiene, respiratory and cough etiquette) and mandatory self-screening prior to coming to campus daily.
If you feel ill or exhibit COVID-19 symptoms while on campus or in class, please leave campus immediately, self-isolate, and complete the mandatory symptom reporting tool. For purposes of contact tracing, attendance will be taken in all classes and labs. Participants can check in using posted QR codes through the cuScreen platform where provided. Students who do not have a smartphone will be required to complete a paper process as indicated on the COVID-19 website.
All members of the Carleton community are required to follow guidelines regarding safe movement and seating on campus (e.g. directional arrows, designated entrances and exits, designated seats that maintain physical distancing). In order to avoid congestion, allow all previous occupants to fully vacate a classroom before entering. No food or drinks are permitted in any classrooms or labs.
For the most recent information about Carleton’s COVID-19 response and required measures, please see the University’s COVID-19 webpage and review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Should you have additional questions after reviewing, please contact covidinfo@carleton.ca
Please note that failure to comply with University policies and mandatory public health requirements, and endangering the safety of others are considered misconduct under the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy. Failure to comply with Carleton’s COVID-19 procedures may lead to supplementary action involving Campus Safety and/or Student Affairs.
Requests for Academic Accommodation
You may need special arrangements to meet your academic obligations during the term. For an accommodation request, the processes are as follows:
Pregnancy obligation
Please contact your instructor with any requests for academic accommodation during the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is known to exist. For more details https://carleton.ca/equity/accommodation/pregnancy-accommodation-form/
Religious obligation
Please contact your instructor with any requests for academic accommodation during the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is known to exist. For more details https://carleton.ca/equity/accommodation/religious-observances/
Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
If you have a documented disability requiring academic accommodations in this course, please contact the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities at 613-520-6608 or pmc@carleton.ca for a formal evaluation or contact your PMC coordinator to send your instructor your Letter of Accommodation at the beginning of the term. You must also contact the centre no later than two weeks before the first in-class scheduled test or exam requiring accommodation (if applicable). After requesting accommodation from the centre, meet with your instructor as soon as possible to ensure accommodation arrangements are made. For more: https://carleton.ca/pmc/
Survivors of Sexual Violence
As a community, Carleton University is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working and living environment where sexual violence will not be tolerated, and its survivors are supported through academic accommodations as per Carleton’s Sexual Violence Policy. For more information about the services available at the university and to obtain information about sexual violence and/or support: https://carleton.ca/sexual-violence-support/
Accommodation for Student Activities
Carleton University recognizes the substantial benefits, both to the individual student and for the university, that result from a student participating in activities beyond the classroom experience. Reasonable accommodation must be provided to students who compete or perform at the national or international level. Please contact your instructor with any requests for academic accommodation during the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is known to exist. https://carleton.ca/senate/wp-content/uploads/Accommodation-for-Student-Activities-1.pdf
For more information on academic accommodation, please contact the departmental administrator or visit https://students.carleton.ca/course-outline/
Respectful Discussion
Discussion and debate play valuable roles in online and in-person classes. Differing views should focus on the content of the material and efforts should be made to understand how a person’s lived experience might or ought to shape their perspectives. Racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, and ableist language will not be tolerated.
Diversity
Carleton’s journalism program is committed to creating a welcoming, stimulating, professional and creative environment for our increasingly diverse student body. We commit to eliminating racism against racialized and Indigenous people as well as inequities or other barriers based on ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender expression, sexual orientation or ability. We hope our program’s commitment to anti-racism and anti-oppression practices will benefit all of our students while they are here and that it will foster a wider culture of equity and inclusion in newsrooms of the future as they respond to and report on an increasingly diverse society.
The Permanent Working Group was established in order to help keep the journalism school on track with structural changes that aim to make the school a safe and welcoming environment for all students. The group also provides specific direction and advice to the journalism program committee and head on matters pertaining to equity and inclusion. Students wishing to propose programmatic ideas or who have concerns may contact us directly via https://carleton.ca/sjc/journalism/equity-and-inclusion/permanent-working-group/
The Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities fosters the development of an inclusive and transformational university culture where individual distinctiveness and a sense of belonging for every member drive excellence in research, teaching, learning and working at Carleton. Students with complaints may direct them to the Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities via https://carleton.ca/equity/
The journalism program has a student-led Association for Equity and Inclusion in Journalism. Its mission is to make the journalism school a safe(r) space for Black, Indigenous, and students of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ students and students with disabilities/disabled students. More information about the association can be found at https://carleton.ca/sjc/journalism/equity-and-inclusion/student-association/
Additional Student Support
The Centre for Student Academic Support (CSAS) is a centralized collection of learning support services designed to help students achieve their goals and improve their learning both inside and outside the classroom. CSAS offers academic assistance with course content, academic writing and skills development. Visit CSAS on the 4th floor of MacOdrum Library or online at carleton.ca/csas.
Instructions for setting up your campus pin card
Details can be found here: https://carleton.ca/technicalservices/card-access-how-tos/
Textbooks
Digging Deeper 3rd edition is the main textbook for this course. It is available at the Carleton bookstore. Buying the book online is another option. The Data Journalist is an optional textbook, which will come in handy during the weeks when we focus on data. And Your Right To Know, also an optional textbook, will be useful for our access-to-information sessions.
Assignments and Evaluation(TOP)
Assignments in this course are governed by the provisions of the document Ethics and Standards in the School of Journalism and Communication. There are four assignments, each with a deadline. Lateness will be penalized, though exceptional circumstances will be taken into account. There is no final examination. With the exception of the access-to-information assignment, each has three components, all of which will figure in the grade:
- Copies of the actual documents compiled / gathered.
- A description of how the documents were obtained and why they were useful.
- The resulting story or visualization.
Each of the four assignments is worth 20 per cent of the overall course grade. The remaining 20 per cent of the grade will be determined based on presence / punctuality, participation and professionalism, including quiz results.
Due Dates
1) Data visualization outline due Mon., Feb. 5, noon.
2) Data visualization due Sun., Feb. 11, noon.
3) Access-to-information requests must be filed by Thu., Feb. 15, 11:59 p.m.
4) Backstory outline due Sun., Feb. 18, noon.
5) Backstory assignment due Sun., March 3, noon.
6) Dollars and Sense outline due Fri., March 8, 11:59 p.m.
7) Dollars and Sense story due Sun., March 17, noon.
8) Access-to-information assignment due Sun., March 24, noon.
Grades (additional information)
The passing grade for this course is B minus.
Informal questions or appeals about your grade on assignments or other graded components of the course should be raised with the instructor no later than seven business days after the grade has been issued.
For information about the formal Grade Review process, please see the Graduate Regulations: http://calendar.carleton.ca/grad/gradregulations/administrationoftheregulations/#15
Standing in a course is determined by the course instructor subject to the approval of the Faculty Dean. This means that grades submitted by an instructor may be subject to revision. No grades are final until they have been approved by the Dean.
Academic Integrity
This course abides by Carleton University’s Academic Integrity Policy. Acts of academic dishonesty include, but are not restricted to, plagiarism and unauthorized resubmission of work, and will be dealt with accordingly. Plagiarism is a serious offence, which cannot be resolved directly between the student and the course instructor. Penalties are not trivial. They can include a final grade of “F” for the course.
- Do not, under any circumstances, present someone else’s work as your own.
- Do not download and/or copy any files, stories, photos, audio or video you find online or elsewhere and use them as your own.
- Do not fabricate sources of information.
- Do not invent facts.
General Regulations, Section 19, of the Graduate Calendar http://calendar.carleton.ca/grad/gradregulations/. If an academic offence is suspected, it will be referred to the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.
Ethics and Professional Standards
This is a professional school, and you’ll be held to professional standards in both assignments and conduct. As a student of journalism, you must read and adhere to the School’s policies.
- Our ethics policy sets out the rules of behaviour that you, as students and journalists, are expected to follow as you carry out your assignments for this course. One of the rules, for example, makes clear that you must not interview relatives or friends for your story, except in rare and special circumstances and with the advance permission of the instructor.
- Our publishing policy requires certain authorizations before journalistic coursework can be published outside of the class. In addition, your sources must understand that any assignments they are associated with may be published outside of class.
- Our policy on electronic media usage requires that you follow copyright regulations with respect to your use of all materials culled from the Internet. For example, you cannot use any pictures you find online in your assignments unless you get written permission from the copyright holder to use them and submit it to the instructor.
Graduates can find all three policies here https://carleton.ca/sjc/journalism/graduate-studies/resources-current-students/
You are expected to be familiar with these policies and apply them to your work. Failure to abide by them will adversely affect your standing in the course.
If you have questions about the journalism program, degree requirements, your standing in the program or your academic audit, you should contact Graduate Administrator Kemi Obando kemi.obando@carleton.ca or Graduate Supervisor Sarah Everts at sarah.everts@carleton.ca
Course Schedule (TOP)
Jan. 10 (In person): a. Course introduction / self-assessment b. Introduction to Access to information c. Access-to-information tips: Previously released records
|| Reading: Digging Deeper, Chapters, 1, 2, 10
Jan. 17 (Virtual): a. Access-to-information tips: Previously released records, focusing a request, negotiating, seeking partial releases b. Assignment: Access to information
|| Reading review: Digging Deeper, Chapters, 1, 2, 10
Jan. 24 (Virtual): a. Data (part one) b. Assignment: Data visualization
|| Reading: Digging Deeper: Chapter 11
|| Optional reading: The Data Journalist: Chapters 2, 4
Jan. 31 (Virtual): a. Data (part two)
|| Reading: Digging Deeper, Chapters 3, 4, 6
|| Optional reading: The Data Journalist: Chapter 8
Feb. 7 (Virtual): a. Introduction to historical records b. Assignment: Backstory c. Data visualization due Sun., Feb. 11, noon.
|| Reading review of chapters covered so far to prepare for Feb. 14 quiz
Feb. 14 (Virtual): a. Quiz based on readings and in-class learning b. Elements of storytelling c. Access-to-information requests must be filed by Thu., Feb. 15, 11:59 p.m.
|| Reading: Digging Deeper, Chapters 7, 8
Feb. 21: Break Week. No class scheduled.
Feb. 28 (Virtual): a. Data visualization feedback. b. Dollars and Sense (part one) c. Assignment: Dollars and Sense story d. Backstory assignment due Sun., March 3, noon.
|| Reading: Digging Deeper, Chapter 9
March 6 (Virtual): a. Dollars and Sense (part two) b. Public records (part one)
|| Reading review: Chapters 4, 9
March 13 (Virtual): a. Backstory feedback b. Public records (part two) c. Dollars and Sense story due Sun., March 17, noon.
|| Reading: Chapter 7
March 20 (Virtual): a. Access-to-information tips: Making sense of records (decoding documents, chronologies) b. Access-to-information assignment due Sun., March 24, noon
|| Reading: Chapter 5
March 27 (Virtual): a. Dollars and Sense story feedback b. Data: Additional techniques
|| Reading review: Digging Deeper, Chapters 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
April 3 (In person): a. Access-to-information assignment feedback b. Quiz based on readings and in-class learning c. Enterprise journalism tactics
Virtual office hours
We are available to discuss course material and assignments with you by email, phone or after class. Our virtual office hours are Wednesday 11 a.m. to noon ET – please advise David or Jim in advance that you would like to speak with one or both of us.
Data visualization (TOP)
A digital visualization that tells a story based on analysis of data, due Sun., Feb. 11, noon. (An outline is due Mon., Feb. 5, noon.)
What is required for emailed outline draft visualizations?
- The dataset(s) you want to use in an Excel workbook that contains three tabs: the original dataset with the URL pasted into the first available cell in the first row; two subsequent worksheets with the filtered datasets that will be visualized.
- A brief, point-form explanation in the body of an email of why the data tables are newsworthy.
- At least two public records to support the visualization uploaded to DocumentCloud and annotated.
What is required for the approved visualizations?
- Two newsworthy visualizations displaying two different trends from your dataset. For instance, one could be the kind of vertical bar chart. The second, a map.
- The visualizations must be newsworthy. For instance, a Statistics Canada table that has recently been published and mined for new information that adds value to what we already know. In the case of consumer price index statistics, we will have compared the price of items before the pandemic to the present day. For instance, you might create a dashboard in Tableau to allow users to see which provinces had the highest gasoline prices. Ideally, these numbers should be used in stand-alone, value-added visualizations that could be shared on social media as a way of bringing eyeballs to an original story.
- You must use up to 100 words to set up each visualization, using AT LEAST three of the kinds of public records described in chapter 4 of Digging Deeper for contextual background information.
- The public records MUST be uploaded to DocumentCloud with the appropriate annotations.
- Upload the visualizations and explanations to the category on our WordPress site, JOUR 5206_2024_1. You’ll be shown how to do this.
What’s to be submitted?
- Two DIFFERENT visualizations in ONE blog post kept in draft format. Each visualization must be accompanied by a 100-word explanation that explains the news value. Upload the blog post to the WordPress category “JOUR 5206_2024_1”
- A 500-word explanation in an email Word document that briefly explains WHY you chose the visualizations, their news value, and the public records you used to provide context.
- In your explanations used to set up the visualizations, there must be links to AT LEAST three different public records uploaded to DocumentCloud (Don’t worry! You will learn how to upload and annotate documents.). The DocumentCloud links MUST take readers to the appropriate annotations in the public record. You can use a SAME record for each visualization.
- The Excel workbook that contains four worksheets: worksheet one – the original table with the URL pasted into the first available cell in the first row; worksheet two – the working copy of the original table; worksheet three – the filtered and cleaned-up table used to provide the first visualization; worksheet four – the cleaned-up table used to provide the second visualization. Only provide ONE workbook, even if you are using two tables from different datasets. The visualization does not have emerge from a pivot table. It can also be from regular table that is filtered and sorted.
- The Word document with your background explanation and the Excel workbook must be emailed to me.
Data visualization frequently asked questions
Q: Can I choose any dataset?
A: You have a fair degree of flexibility. Be sure to link the visualizations to an event making news.
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.
Q: Do I have to run the dataset by you?
A: No, because you already did that in the outline.
Q: Can the graph visualization be a jpg or png file?
A: NO!! It must be embedded as an interactive visualization that allows for a reader engagement? For further clarification, this means taking the visualization embed code and pasting into the HTML tab of your blog post. I’ll use a demonstration to show you how to do this. If you still run into problems, please let me know.
Q: Will I lose marks for embedding a graph as a jpg or png file?
A: Yes, half a grade.
Q: Can I use two similar visualizations?
A: For the sake of variety, you MUST create two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ones. For instance, a dataset that contains important numbers may also have geographic information such as longitude and latitude coordinates, or names of countries, provinces and cities. In this case, you could display your numbers from your Excel spreadsheet in an infographic. In a second visualization, you could then display the geographic coordinates in Tableau.
Q: Will I lose marks for neglecting to ensure my visualizations have titles, cutlines, and credits for sources?
A: Yes. Half a grade
Q: Do I have to use Tableau?
A: No, you can use another visualization software with which you are more comfortable. However, you’ll be getting a licence for Tableau Desktop, which you are free to use for this assignment. I’ll also be preparing instructional videos.
Q: Will I lose marks for neglecting to upload and annotate my public documents in DocumentCloud?
A: Yes, half a grade.
Q: How should I use the public records?
A: As background information to provide context or advance the story.
Q: What would be an example of a public record?
A: The kinds that are discussed in Chapter 4 of Digging Deeper.
Q: Can a public record be an article or news report?
A: NO! The focus in this course is the use of the primary records described in Digging Deeper. While news reports that show up in your Google alerts are useful as tip sheets for sources of information, they can not be the primary reference, in large part because the reports could contain inaccuracies.
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.
Backstory assignment (TOP)
A story that draws on archival- or library-based sources from at least 35 years ago (1989 or earlier) to provide historical depth on a current Canadian issue or event. 600 words, due Sun., March 3, noon. (An outline is due Sun., Feb. 18, noon.)
Outline checklist:
Send your outline (pasted in the body of an email, not a Word document) by Sun., Feb. 18, noon.
It should be no more than 200 words and include:
(*) A few words about an issue or event in the news today (i.e. what is happening now that makes it worth looking into the backstory?)
(*) A brief description of the backstory – the original issue or event from 35 or more years ago that will be the focus of your story.
(*) What kinds of historical sources do you hope to use in your research (e.g. newspaper archives, parliamentary debates, archival documents, a memoir, photographs)?
(*) Who (or what kinds of sources) do you hope to interview for the story?
Story Checklist
The story must include:
- First-hand research involving historical records, photographs, news articles, museum artifacts or similar materials.
- Comments from someone involved in the original issue or events and-or an expert who is familiar with them and can provide context. (Ideally, the comments from the person involved in the original events will come from an interview you conduct. If you are writing about the 1970s or later, you should be able to track down someone from that period to interview.)
- At least one photo or other illustration to accompany the story. It might be an archival photo or one that you have taken.
- Copies of two pieces of documentation gathered during research for your story (not more than one or two pages apiece).
- For EACH of the two pieces of documentation, full-sentence answers to these questions:
(*) What is the documentation?
(*) How did you find/obtain it?
(*) Why was the documentation helpful?
Backstory: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I hand in my assignment?
A: Upload everything – including documents and answers to the three questions – to the relevant “category” of the syllabus (ReportingMethods2024_2). Save it as a draft. It doesn’t matter what format you choose, but most supporting material should be in PDF, .jpeg or Word format. You can also use DocumentCloud to upload pages of your records to the syllabus.
Q: Can I write about non-Canadian events?
A: No.
Q: Does my topic have to be a national issue?
A: No, it could be a provincial or local one.
Q: Can I just revisit any interesting episode from the past?
A: No, there has to be a reason you’re writing about this subject – a clear and substantial connection to something happening today. For instance, given the proposal to build an NHL arena on Ottawa’s LeBreton Flats, you might do a story about the history of the neighbourhood. (DON’T DO THIS ACTUAL TOPIC.)
Q: I am writing about events that took place 100 years ago and everyone involved is dead. Will that work?
A: Yes, that’s fine, and it’s why I have made it optional to interview someone involved in the original events. But perhaps you will find a diary entry or autobiography quotation that will help bring a deceased person’s voice into the story. And if your story involves events from 40 or even 50 years ago, I would hope you could track someone down from the era to interview.
Q: What sort of documentation do you want?
A: It could be almost anything that helped you do the story: a photo of a relevant page from a memoir, a page from an archival record, a telephone or email listing that helped you find someone to interview, an excerpt from an interview transcript – the choice is yours.
Q: Could my illustration(s) accompanying the piece double as my documentation?
A: Quite possibly, if they helped you do the story. Be sure you have permission to post the photos or other illustrations from each rights holder or creator.
Dollars and Sense story (TOP)
A news story based on the financial records of an institution. 600 words, due Sun., March 17, noon. (An outline is due Mon., March 11, noon)
What is required?
1) A news story about any aspect of a publicly traded company subject to criticism about price gouging during the pandemic and subsequent inflationary period. Examples would be grocery store chains, oil and gas companies and financial institutions such as banks.
2) The story MUST come from the financial statement: a calculation you’ve made using numbers in the statement.
3) Upload the story in draft format to the “Investigative Journalism_3” category.
4) AT LEAST two interviews: One with an expert; the second with an individual with a direct connection to the specific program or program area at the heart of the story. For instance, the latter could be a person, group or institution impacted by the company’s financial difficulties or success. The former could be an economist or a university or college professor who studies the corporation.
What do you need for the initial draft on March 11?
In an email, a one- or two-sentence lede, followed by a point-form explanation that contains the following: your company, the financial record(s), where you see the story heading; a possible Statistics Canada table(s) for additional context; possible interviewees.
The information described above MUST be contained in an email and in point-form.
What’s to be submitted on March 17, noon?
1) An emailed, 500-word explanation in a Word document that briefly explains — in point form, even — the steps you took to get the story, the coordinates of your interviewees and the people you attempted to interview.
2) An Excel sheet with your calculations emailed as an attachment. Please ensure that all the tables (possibly from different datasets) are in ONE Excel workbook.
3) In addition to uploading the story to the “Investigative Journalism_3” category on our website, a Word document with your actual story, which will contain my feedback.
4) The uploaded story to the website MUST have at least two visualizations similar to the ones required for the data-visualization assignment: a simple graph in a program such as Tableau that displays the key numbers; a large photograph — column-width; an infographic; if possible, an embedded line graph showing the company’s stock prices going back to at least six months before the pandemic. You MUST also upload your financial statement(s) and other possible documents to DocumentCloud and annotate the appropriate sections.
Dollars and Sense Story Questions and Answers
Q: Can I choose any company?
A. Yes.
Q: What company record do I need?
A: A publicly traded company’s most recent financial statement, though I would suggest sticking to the sectors being targeted by some federal politicians, especially the opposition, for price-gouging or “greedflation.” Examples could be grocers or oil, gas companies, airlines, etc. Typically, the most recent financial document would be a quarterly, or interim, statement.
Q: Do I need any other documentation?
A: Possibly other financial statements from the company to help round out the narrative. For instance, Air Canada has done very well, according to the company’s most recent filings. You could use a quarterly report to illustrate a part of its success, or challenge that has yet to be reported, or has received little attention. Then, if you wanted to round out the story to include executive salaries, you’d need a recently-released proxy circular – described on page 214 of Digging Deeper – to obtain the figures for the CEO and other top bosses.
Q: How can I tell a story about a company whose financial situation has already made news?
A: The key is context. In the case of grocery stores facing charges of “greedflation”, you could analyse profits before and during the pandemic to see if the criticisms hold true, and then tap into a discussion among some opposition politicians such as the NDP and economists and other experts who debate whether these companies are making excessive profits on the backs of consumers.
Q: Can you give me an example?
A: In public statements and testimony before MPs, Loblaw says if you take a close look at its books, the company IS NOT making excessive profits. Your story might put that claim to the test, seeking out records (notes from economists who work for the banks listed under week eight of the syllabus.) and news releases from political parties and advocacy groups that express contradictory opinions.
Q: So, this story can be a lookback?
A: Yes. By their very nature, recently-released financial statements are snapshots in time, three months in the case of a quarterly or interim financial statement, 12 months in the case of an annual report, which also doubles as a fourth-quarter report. What you’re looking for is fresh information providing context about an aspect of the company’s business during the period in question.
Q: Can the story also look ahead?
A: Yes. Typically, financial statements will discuss future challenges in the management’s, discussion & analysis section, which is discussed on pp. 213-2014 of Digging Deeper’s Following the Money chapter.
Q: Can you provide an example?
A: For instance, Air Canada’s management discussion and analysis report might weigh in on the effect high fuel prices could have on its bottom line. Or a grocer could discuss challenges of keeping prices below the rate of inflation, given public anger over the high price of food.
Q: Can I use Statistics Canada information about economic information such as job numbers and inflation for additional context?
A: Absolutely! One of the goals of this assignment is to follow the analysis and research we conducted with digging into the inflation numbers.
If you are discussing a company’s fourth quarter, which could be the last three months of 2023, you’d want to use tables that measure unemployment or the impact on industrial sectors or the price of certain items for that time period to provide additional context. In short, feel free to build on the work you did for the data-visualization assignment.
Q: Can a visualization be Statistics Canada’s inflation numbers for commodities that relate to my company’s business such as food or gas?
A: Yes, in fact, I would encourage this, as it would allow you to build on the skills you developed dong the data-visualization assignment.
Q: Must the story emerge from the numbers in the financial statement?
A: YES!!!!
Q: What documentation should I use?
A: Keep it simple. At the very least, all you need is the company’s most recent quarterly or annual report and the management’s discussion and analysis. A fourth quarter filing doubles as an annual report, covering four quarters of the company’s fiscal year. Typically, the management discussion and analysis provides context for the numbers in the financial statement.
Q: How many numbers do I need for my story?
A: Again, PLEASE keep it simple. Ideally, it only has to be ONE number: The money the company lost. The cash it has on hand. The increasing cost of doing business.
Q: Typically, where can I find these numbers?
A: In the company’s balance sheets we will review and analyze in class. As we have discussed, begin with the tables.
Q: So, I don’t have to read the entire financial report?
A: Absolutely not! Just find a key number in a table, and information in the financial statement — contained in a note, or the management’s discussion & analysis — that puts the number into context.
Q: I need at least two interviews for my story, and one must be an expert. Can you give me an example?
A: The expert can be business prof., an economist with a bank or think tank. In short, someone who is neutral and knowledgeable about the company. The expert CAN NOT be an advocate who is known to be a critic of the company you are profiling, or a union official who represents the workers.
Q: What if I have trouble contacting people?
A: To be on the safe side, avoid relying on a limited number of sources. The wider and earlier you cast your net, the better. And avoid waiting until the last minute by exercising good time management. Start with the obvious: people affected by the company in question, customers, clients, etc. post-secondary institutions such as Carleton or the University of Ottawa have business departments. Check them out for experts who have studied the company in question. Banks have economists who follow various sectors. Check out the so-called “notes” or reports they publish after their companies have released their latest filings.
Q: Must I interview a company representative?
A: Certainly try. Failing an interview, a written statement will do. Failing that, just point out in the story the company neglected to respond to requests for an interview or comment. And then try to find what the company has said publicly in a news release, in a recorded interview that allows you so see or hear what was said, rather than relying on a quote in a media report that might be inaccurate. Or you could find out if a company executives testified before MPs studying the possible connection between inflation and rising prices for commodities such as food. Finally, you could also find explations in the management’s discussion and analysis.
Q: Can I use what the company said in a media report that only carries quotes and no recorded interviews.
A: Yes, but ONLY as a last resort after all other possibilities have been exhausted. Sometimes companies will post recordings of chats executives have had with investors. You can use quotes from these conversations.
Q: Can I accept an emailed statement as one of the interviews?
A: Yes, but ONLY if it is a company official. And only after you have pushed for something in-person. If you are stuck with a statement, be sure to set it up in the story by pointing out that the official in question refused an interview, choosing instead to issue a statement that avoided answering the question. Then, be sure to paraphrase and quote selectively from the statement, if at all. In short, no long, boring, jargon-laden statements that say nothing, but give the appearance of accountability.
Q: Must I provide hyperlinks to the financial statement annotation in my story?
A: Yes. This is a MUST. This allows readers to quickly locate and digest the source of your information from the type of primary records discussed in Digging Deeper.
Q: Will I be deducted marks for neglecting to upload and annotate my documents?
A: Yes. At least half a grade.
Q: Is it important to properly cite the source of my analysis?
A: Absolutely. This is crucial. The key number cited in your lede should be “according to an analysis of company X’s most recent quarterly report.”
Q: Will I lose a mark for neglecting to cite the source of my analysis?
A: Yes, half a grade.
Q: Do I have to publish the story?
A: Initially, make sure it’s in draft format. Once it is marked, and approved for publication, feel free to make the suggested changes, then publish.
Q: Can I use a video excerpt of testimony at a House of Commons committee?
A: Yes, the most multimedia elements such as video, graphics such as the ones you produced for your data-visualization assignment.
Q: After receiving the green light to publish, can I also offer it to Capital Current?
A: Yes.
Access-to-Information assignment (TOP)
An exercise involving preparation and submission of freedom-of-information requests to all levels of government, due Sun., March 24, noon. (Requests must be filed by Thu., Feb. 15.)
Assignment checklist
- Copies of one original request to EACH of the three levels of government (municipal, provincial, federal).
- Proof of one request for previously released records from the federal government (e.g. an email reply or receipt indicating you have made the request).
- Copies of correspondence received/sent by you during the course of each of the four above-noted requests (municipal, provincial, federal, previously released federal records)
- A few lines detailing what you have done to track the progress of each of the four requests, including the status of each as of end of day Fri., March 22.
- Copies of at least two – but not more than five – particularly relevant pages of information from a previously released set of records from any ONE level of government.
- For the pages in (#5) above, full-sentence answers to these questions:
(*) What is the information?
(*) From which government and department (or other public body) did these pages come?
(*) How would these records be helpful in researching or writing a story? Please try to highlight relevant facts or passages in the records using DocumentCloud.
Access-to-information requests must be filed by Thu., Feb. 15.
Assignment due Sun., March 24, noon.
Access-to-information assignment questions and answers
Q: How do I hand in my assignment?
A: Upload everything – including documents and answers to the three questions – to the relevant “category” of the syllabus (ReportingMethods2024_4). Save it as a draft. It doesn’t matter what format you choose, but most supporting material should be in PDF, .jpeg or Word format. You can also use DocumentCloud to upload pages of your records to the syllabus.
Q: Do all of my requests have to be on the same topic?
A: No. Request whatever records you might find useful.
Q: Do you want every piece of correspondence related to the four requests?
A: I want to see all relevant correspondence to help me understand how things proceeded.
Q: I dealt with agencies largely on the phone. What should I do?
A: Please give me dates and brief summaries of these calls wherever possible.
Q: I forgot to make copies of my requests. What should I do?
A: Please try to recreate the wording and date of your original requests as best you can.
Q: Can #5. and #6. on the above checklist be based on previously released pages that I find online?
A: Yes, though the pages must come from a site administered by a municipal, provincial, territorial or federal government.
Q: So, I don’t necessarily have to analyze previously released federal documents?
A: That’s correct. Although you must request some previously released federal documents, you may not actually receive the copies in time to analyze them. So, for example, you can simply download some previously released records from one of the provincial sites that make actual documents available, as demonstrated in class, and analyze those.
As we have discussed, you should receive some correspondence in response to your original requests and your previously released federal one. Here’s a closer look:
Original requests (municipal, provincial/territorial, federal):
(*) An acknowledgment letter or email should arrive within a week or 10 days.
(*) Many of you will also receive time-extension or fee-assessment letters.
(*) 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.
(*) 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.
(*) However, there is no need to pay additional 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. For the purposes of the assignment all I need to see is the latest reply or response letter, whatever it might be (not the actual records).
Overall, I will be looking to see that you followed up each of your four requests as necessary and managed their progress prudently.
Remember, as outlined on the checklist, you will also need to obtain and analyze some previously released records from any level of government. As you will recall, several provincial sites provide actual copies of releases for immediate download, so everyone will be able to easily find such records.
Here is an example of what I expect in the way of analysis, using the example of RCMP records.
A link to excerpts from the documents with a few relevant annotations: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6818659-Ortis-RCMP-ATIPs.html
(*) What is the information?
These are emails and memos about the arrest of RCMP employee Cameron Jay Ortis, who was charged under the Security of Information Act.
(*) From which government and department did these pages come?
The records are from the RCMP, a federal agency.
(*) How would these records be helpful in researching or writing a story? Please try to highlight relevant facts or passages in the records.
The records reveal behind-the-scenes information that could form the basis of a news story about the Ortis case, giving readers a sense of the anxiety within the RCMP about his arrest.
The documents show that after the shocking apprehension of one of their own on national-secrecy charges, rank-and-file Mounties were encouraged to get counselling if needed, decline to speak with the media and avoid the headquarters venue where a news conference on the case was taking place.
Week One (TOP)
What you will learn
What the course is all about;
The basics of access to information;
How to make an access-to-information request.
Links
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.tbs-sct.gc.ca/hgw-cgf/oversight-surveillance/atip-aiprp/ai/sfgei-srgfff-eng.asp#A
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 service
https://atip-aiprp.tbs-sct.gc.ca/
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: Search previously released (disclosed) information from a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) request – Government of Nova Scotia
The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia
https://www.facebook.com/righttoknowns/
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/
Yukon
Main: https://yukon.ca/en/legal-and-social-supports/legal-services/request-access-information-records
Proactive disclosure: https://open.yukon.ca/
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: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/accountability-transparency/access-information
Completed requests: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/accountability-transparency/access-information/completed-requests
Hamilton
https://www.hamilton.ca/city-council/city-clerks-office/freedom-information-privacy-protection
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/access-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
Vancouver police – completed requests: Published Freedom of Information Requests – Vancouver Police Department (vpd.ca)
Winnipeg
Main: http://winnipeg.ca/clerks/fippa/
Completed requests: https://data.winnipeg.ca/Organizational-Support-Services/Fippa-Request-Responses/pfbi-rm6v
COMPLETED ACCESS REQUESTS
Federal departments and agencies
https://open.canada.ca/en/search/ati
National Capital Commission
https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/access-to-information-requests-disclosure-copies
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
Regina (Note: not all are freedom-of-information responses) http://open.regina.ca/group/freedom-of-information
Nova Scotia
https://informationaccess.novascotia.ca/
Newfoundland
http://atipp-search.gov.nl.ca/
U.S. State Department
https://foia.state.gov/Search/Search.aspx
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
https://www.cbp.gov/site-policy-notices/foia/reading-room
Week Two (TOP)
Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WaBpuxVHsY
What you will learn
More on crafting an access-to-information request;
Requesting previously released records;
Details of the access-to-information assignment.
Links
“TIP OF THE ICEBERG” RESEARCH
Proactive disclosure global list
https://open.canada.ca/en/proactive-disclosure
Publications global list
https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/weeklyAcquisitionList/lists.html?sy=2023
House of Commons publication search
https://www.ourcommons.ca/PublicationSearch/en/
Departmental reports (this one is for Public Safety Canada, but departments have their own, usual under Transparency or Publications and Reports)
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/index-en.aspx?t=dprtmntl
Transparency (this one is for the Treasury Board Secretariat, but many departments have a Transparency link on homepage)
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/index-en.aspx?t=dprtmntl
Public opinion reports
https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/services/government-canada/public-opinion-research/search-report/Pages/search-report.aspx
House of Commons sessional papers directly from the Library of Parliament 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
Week Three (TOP)
Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S9zViD-mGg
What you will learn
The concept of open data;
How to download Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index dataset and building pivot tables;
How to use the same techniques to analyze data on other open-data sites;
Preliminary discussion of the data-visualization assignment.
Links
Open data portals
http://www.davidmckie.com/open-data-portals/
Open Government CAN
https://twitter.com/OpenGovCan
No change on interest rate as Bank of Canada sticks to 5%
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bank-of-canada-interest-rate-january-1.7093055
Inflation ticks up to 3.4% in December, grocery pressures steady https://globalnews.ca/news/10228769/canada-december-inflation/
Canadian Consumer Price Index (December 2023)
https://economics.td.com/ca-cpi?utm_source=TD&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ca-cpi
Canadian CPI (December): Ending the year on a sour note
https://economics.cibccm.com/cds?ID=138f638b-3ca9-4d4b-87fb-5cf365b98b6c&TYPE=E
Canadian firms see rates hitting sales, inflation easing: central bank survey https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/canadian-firms-see-rates-hitting-sales-inflation-easing-central-bank-survey-1.6726252
Business Outlook Survey—Fourth Quarter of 2023 https://www.bankofcanada.ca/2024/01/business-outlook-survey-fourth-quarter-of-2023/
Statistics Canada’s data tables
Consumer Price Index visualization tool
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/2018016/cpilg-ipcgl-eng.htm
Consumer Price Index frequently asked questions https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22672133-consumer-price-index-frequently-asked-questions
How to use Statistics Canada’s data tables
https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/sc/video/howto
C.D. Howe Institute
https://www.cdhowe.org/
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
https://policyalternatives.ca/
Fraser Institute
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/
Parliamentary Budget Office
https://www.pbo-dpb.ca/en
Department of Finance Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance.html
The Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy
https://www.ifsd.ca/en/apropos-about
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) https://www.oecd.org/about/
HillNotes
https://hillnotes.ca/
Tableau
https://public.tableau.com/en-us/s/
DATA
Week Four (TOP)
Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIc99FHoJZ0
What you will learn
Continuation of data analysis using Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey data;
How to upload tables to Tableau Desktop;
How to upload public documents to DocumentCloud.
Review the data-visualization assignment.
Links
House of Commons sessional papers directly from the Library of Parliament 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
Open Government – Proactive disclosure and access to information
https://open.canada.ca/en
Bank of Canada
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/
Sylvain Charlebois – Professor, Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab
https://www.dal.ca/faculty/management/faculty-staff/our-faculty/sylvain-charlebois.html
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
Uploading documents to DocumentCloud tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_d0zsw6hhQ&feature=youtu.be
Loblaw submission to the Competition Bureau of Canada
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24399462-loblaw-market-study-submission
Loblaw ending 50% discount on some food items raises concerns about anti-competitive behaviour
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/loblaws-discount-competition-1.7085484
NDP calls for Competition Bureau Investigation into grocery prices in wake of Loblaw discount cuts
https://www.ndp.ca/news/ndp-calls-competition-bureau-investigation-grocery-prices-wake-loblaw-discount-cuts
Tableau Public
https://public.tableau.com/app/discover
Week Five (TOP)
Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xncVlbP7t-c
What you will learn
Continuation of data visualization discussion and instructions for uploading content to WordPress;
Introduction to historical records;
Exploring archival resources.
Links
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Historical Hansard
http://parl.canadiana.ca/
https://www.lipad.ca/
Early Canadiana
http://online.canadiana.ca/
CBC Digital Archives
http://archives.cbc.ca/
Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen, Toronto Star historical databases available through Carleton’s
MacOdrum Library https://library.carleton.ca/find/news/news-databases
Newspaper database
http://www.newspapers.com
Library and Archives Canada
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca
LAC Ask Us a Question
https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/services/public/ask-us-question/pages/ask-us-question.aspx
ArchivesCanada.ca: Gateway to Canada’s past
https://archivescanada.accesstomemory.ca/
Canada Year Book – historical collection
https://www65.statcan.gc.ca/acyb_r000-eng.htm
University of Calgary digital collections
https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/
Internet archive
www.archive.org
Backstory examples
‘A huge part of our local history’: A look back at Emancipation Day in Windsor
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/history-of-emancipation-day-in-windsor-1.5234007
NHL at 100: Humble beginnings to billion-dollar business
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-100-anniversary-1.4451737
A look back at Souris’ Swinging Bridge ! http://westenddumplings.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-look-back-at-souris-swinging-bridge.html
Who was really the first person to champion the Rideau Canal Skateway?
Week Six (TOP)
Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V012k1zs_Cc
What you will learn
How much useful information you have soaked up, via our first quiz;
Elements of storytelling, including how to write a good lede.
Fielding questions about the access-to-information requests that must be filed by Feb. 15, midnight.
Links
LEDES
A year later, Flaco the owl’s escape from the Central Park Zoo remains a mystery
Outlook town council – Sport of disc golf discussed
Qualicum Beach looks to clean up issues in zoning bylaw
St. Michael’s celebrates ‘One School, One Book’
Visual artists co-founder the latest to exhibit works at Civic Square
Shoppers turn to ‘imperfect produce’ as grocery prices rise
STORY CONSTRUCTION, FLOW
City budget (so far): Pressure on, and pressure from, London Transit
Community groups urge mayor, council to approve London Transit funding ask
Shoppers turn to ‘imperfect produce’ as grocery prices rise
Week Seven (TOP)
Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM4nj3oBi-E
What you will learn
Feedback on data-visualization assignment;
The basics of following money;
The difference between a publicly traded corporation and private company;
How to find out how much a company made;
How to find key numbers in a financial report.
Links
Title Capitalization Tool
https://capitalizemytitle.com/
Grocers called back to Parliament to testify about plans to stabilize prices
https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/10/24/grocers-called-back-to-parliament-to-testify-about-plans-to-stabilize-prices/
Canadian firms see rates hitting sales, inflation easing: central bank survey
https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/canadian-firms-see-rates-hitting-sales-inflation-easing-central-bank-survey-1.6726252
Bank of Canada
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/
NDP’s proposed windfall profits tax would generate over $4 billion over five years: PBO
https://www.ndp.ca/news/ndps-proposed-windfall-profits-tax-would-generate-over-4-billion-over-five-years-pbo
Backgrounder: Market study of retail grocery competition in Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/competition-bureau/news/2022/10/backgrounder-market-study-of-retail-grocery-competition-in-canada.html
Loblaw Companies Limited
https://www.loblaw.ca/
SEDAR
https://www.sedarplus.ca/landingpage/
Loblaw 2023 annual report uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24444989-lcl_2023_ar
Loblaw 2023 annual report uploaded to DocumentCloud — financial highlights
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24444989-lcl_2023_ar#document/p21/a2431636
Week Eight (TOP)
Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnKuYJHAjJ0
What you will learn
A continuation of the fundamentals of following money;
How to mine public records — including House of Commons material — in addition to the ones we have already studied;
Discussion of dollars and sense assignment;
Time to work on outline now due March 11
Links
Bank of Canada
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/
Bank of Canada holds key interest rate at 5% again, saying it’s still too soon for rate cuts
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bank-of-canada-march-6-interest-rates-1.7135198
Consumer Price Index
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/2018016/cpilg-ipcgl-eng.htm
Corporate profit tweet
https://twitter.com/DavidMacCdn/status/1704905145987854793
https://twitter.com/DavidMacCdn/status/1704905147955150891
Air Canada’s executive bonuses fly higher after a profitable year – Globe and Mail story uploaded as PDF
http://www.davidmckie.com/Air Canadas executive bonuses fly higher after a profitable year.pdf
Air Canada’s proxy circular 2024
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24462153-06089771-00000001-00001324-ac_proxy_circular_2024_-_english-pdf#document/p3/a2433496
Compensation tables from proxy circular 2024 uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24462153-06089771-00000001-00001324-ac_proxy_circular_2024_-_english-pdf#document/p68/a2433497
Air Canada investor relations
https://investors.aircanada.com/
Air Canada interactive chart
https://investors.aircanada.com/Interactive-Chart
Air Canada news release
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24449941-q4_2023_air_canada_news_release
Air Canada Q4 2023
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24449940-q4_2023_air_canada_fsn
Air Canada Q4 MDA
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24449939-q4_2023_air_canada_mda
Air Canada Proxy Circular 2023
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24449938-ac_proxycircular_eng_2023rv
Air Canada’s executive salaries uploaded and annotated in DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24449938-ac_proxycircular_eng_2023rv#document/p80/a2433411
Securities and Exchange Commission
https://www.sec.gov/
MarketWatch
http://www.marketwatch.com/?link=MW_Nav_FP
Tradingview
https://www.tradingview.com/ideas/free/
Google Finance
http://finance.google.com/finance
Big Six Banks
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bigsixbanks.asp
RBC Economic Research
http://www.rbc.com/economics/#
BMO Capital Markets
http://economics.bmocapitalmarkets.com/
CIBC Economics Research
https://economics.cibccm.com/economicsweb/EconomicsHome#!WORKSPACE_ID=ECO_HOME
Scotia Bank Economics
http://www.gbm.scotiabank.com/ResearchCapabilities/RE_Scotia_Economics.htm
TD Economics
https://www.td.com/economics/analysis/economics-index.jsp
National Bank Economic Analysis
https://www.nbc.ca/en/rates-and-analysis/economic-analysis.html
BMO Financial Group
https://newsroom.bmo.com/index.php?s=2429
Government of Canada to release Budget 2024 on April 16
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2024/03/government-of-canada-to-release-budget-2024-on-april-16.html
2023 federal budget uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23729543-budget-2023-en
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/
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
Officed of the Auditor General Canada
https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/english/admin_e_41.html
Resources
Show Me the Money Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication: 3rd Edition
https://www.routledge.com/Show-Me-the-Money-Writing-Business-and-Economics-Stories-for-Mass-Communication/Roush/p/book/9781138188389
Week Nine (TOP)
Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moGNeOdQqK4
What you will learn
Mining public records including coroners’ reports, tenders and public accounts;
Finding and analyzing previously released freedom-of-information records;
Backstory feedback.
Links
Postmedia Reports First Quarter Results
https://www.postmedia.com/2024/01/10/postmedia-reports-first-quarter-results-9/
The small-town opioid crisis hidden in the big-city shadow
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-opioid-crisis-canada-small-towns/
The small-town opioid crisis hidden in the big-city shadow – PDF version
Canadian Institute for Health Information
https://www.cihi.ca/en
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
Find out how to request a decision by the Parole Board of Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/parole-board/services/decision-registry.html
Myles Sanderson parole board decision
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24480199-myles-sanderson-parole-document
Ontario Labour Relations Board
http://www.olrb.gov.on.ca/default.asp
The Canadian Legal Information Institute (a voluntary initiative and is not a comprehensive listing of all class action lawsuits currently underway in Canada)
http://canlii.org/en/index.php
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
Office of the Chief Coroner
https://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/DeathInvestigations/office_coroner/coroner.html
BC Coroners Service
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/death/coroners-service
BC Coroner – extreme heat warning
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22074225-extreme_heat_death_review_panel_report
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/
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/bsf-osb.nsf/eng/home
Tutorial for conducting bankruptcy searches
RCMP SECRETS CASE
Top Canadian police official charged with espionage offences had access to international intelligence
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/16/world/canada-rcmp-security-intl-hnk/index.html
RCMP secrets-case arrest triggered internal warnings, advisories to Mounties
https://rdnewsnow.com/2020/01/28/rcmp-secrets-case-arrest-triggered-internal-warnings-advisories-to-mounties/
COMPLETED ACCESS REQUESTS
Federal departments and agencies
https://open.canada.ca/en/search/ati
National Capital Commission
https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/access-to-information-requests-disclosure-copies
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
Regina (Note: not all are freedom-of-information responses) http://open.regina.ca/group/freedom-of-information
Nova Scotia
https://informationaccess.novascotia.ca/
Newfoundland
http://atipp-search.gov.nl.ca/
Week Ten (TOP)
Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwEribpbQZQ
What you will learn
Making sense of records received through access to information;
Decoding records, doing chronologies;
Public records: Federal plans, results reports.
Links
Federal Government Employee Directory
https://www.geds.gc.ca
Auditor General of Canada
https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/admin_e_41.html
Departmental Plans Reports 2024-25
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/planned-government-spending/reports-plans-priorities/2024-25-departmental-plans.html
Departmental Results Reports 2022-23
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/departmental-performance-reports/2022-23-departmental-results-reports.html
Briefing Note Titles and Numbers
https://search.open.canada.ca/briefing_titles/
Research Security Information Update (May 2021)
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2021-rsi-psr-ma/index-en.aspx
EMBASSY SECURITY
Canada temporarily draws down to essential personnel at its embassy in Haiti (2024)
https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2024/03/canada-temporarily-draws-down-rd1-to-essential-personnel-at-its-embassy-in-haiti.html
Canada evacuates some embassy staff in Haiti as violence engulfs capital (2024)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/haiti-withdrawl-canada-1.7143814
Dion says embassy safety top priority despite government funding challenges (2016)
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/dion-says-embassy-safety-top-priority-despite-government-funding-challenges-1.2815953
Global Affairs Canada: Audit of physical security – report summary (May 2018)
https://www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/publications/audits-verification/2018/audit_physical_security_summary-sommaire_audit_securite_materielle.aspx?lang=eng
Auditor general of Canada: Physical Security at Canada’s Missions Abroad (Fall 2018)
https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_201811_04_e_43202.html
Auditor General’s report at a glance: https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/att__e_43227.html
House of Commons committee hearing on auditor general’s report (February 2019)
https://openparliament.ca/committees/public-accounts/42-1/129/heather-jeffrey-5/?page=1
Briefing note title: February 2019
https://search.open.canada.ca/briefing_titles/record/dfatd-maecd,00725-2019
Senate committee report (June 2019)
https://sencanada.ca/content/sen/committee/421/AEFA/reports/AEFA_Security_e.pdf
Global Affairs Canada: Departmental Results 2022-23
https://www.international.gc.ca/transparency-transparence/departmental-results-reports-rapport-resultats-ministeriels/2022-2023.aspx?lang=eng
Global Affairs Canada: Departmental Plan 2024-25
https://www.international.gc.ca/transparency-transparence/departmental-plan-ministeriel/2024-2025.aspx?lang=eng
Week Eleven (TOP)
Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh2YBGV_k4Q
What you will learn
Dollars and Sense assignment feedback;
New database strategies.
Links
Ontario deficit will triple as economy weakens, 2024 budget shows
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-budget-2024-1.7155581
2024 Ontario Budget: Building a Better Ontario
https://budget.ontario.ca/2024/index.html
2024 budget uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24520775-2024-ontario-budget-en
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24520775-2024-ontario-budget-en#document/p17/a2444187
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24520775-2024-ontario-budget-en#document/p17/a2444187
The Public Accounts of Ontario 2022–23
https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-accounts-ontario-2022-23
A car was stolen every 40 minutes in Toronto last year, police chief says
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/car-thefts-2023-toronto-figures-1.7147387
221 vehicles reported stolen in Ottawa so far in 2024: Here’s the hot spots for vehicle thefts
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/221-vehicles-reported-stolen-in-ottawa-so-far-in-2024-here-s-the-hot-spots-for-vehicle-thefts-1.6761505
Police seize 53 stolen vehicles at Port of Montreal
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/police-seize-53-stolen-vehicles-at-port-of-montreal-1.6767361
Government of Canada hosts National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2024/02/government-of-canada-hosts-national-summit-on-combatting-auto-theft.html
Équité Association Commends the Government of Canada for its $15 Million Investment Towards Combating Auto Theft
https://www.equiteassociation.com/press/equite-association-commends-the-government-of-canada-for-its-15-million-investment-towards-combating-auto-theft
221 vehicles reported stolen in Ottawa so far in 2024: Here’s the hot spots for vehicle thefts
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/221-vehicles-reported-stolen-in-ottawa-so-far-in-2024-here-s-the-hot-spots-for-vehicle-thefts-1.6761505
Ottawa Police – Crime Map (Year-to-Date)
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7db5b7d590754c9988d89643542ba646/
Ottawa Police – Crime Map (Year End) 2018-2023
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/e5a8c6d852f242758355702fa041c012/page/Page/?views=Filter
City of Ottawa neighbourhood map
https://open.ottawa.ca/datasets/32fe76b71c5e424fab19fec1f180ec18/explore
Toronto Police Service Public Safety Data Portal
https://data.torontopolice.on.ca/pages/open-data
https://data.torontopolice.on.ca/pages/auto-theft
Incident-based crime statistics, by detailed violations, Canada, provinces, territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Canadian Forces Military Police
https://bit.ly/3TxwOBq
Open data portals
http://www.davidmckie.com/open-data-portals/
Ontario man loses $12K to deepfake scam involving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-man-loses-12k-to-deepfake-scam-involving-prime-minister-justin-trudeau-1.6823827?__vfz=med
Ad for investment platform featuring Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem is fake
https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/fact_checking/ad-for-investment-platform-featuring-bank-of-canada-governor-tiff-macklem-is-fake/article_7ef558ec-3a69-5494-8528-dba3f6102b5a.html
Google Scholar
https://scholar.google.ca/
Google Books
https://books.google.ca/
Wayback Machine
https://web.archive.org/
Week Twelve (TOP)
Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw4t5CZ9-cQ
What you will learn
Access-to-information assignment feedback;
Self-assessment survey follow-up;
How well you prepared for our quiz;
Investigative Reporting and Beat Journalism tactics.
Links
Repository of previously released federal Access to Information responses
https://theijf.org/open-by-default
Canadian Association of Journalists
https://caj.ca/
Investigative Reporters and Editors
https://www.ire.org/
Tutorials(TOP)
From week one
From week two
From week three
From week four
From week five
From week six
From week nine
From week ten
From week eleven
From week twelve
Datasets (TOP)
From week three
From week four
From week five
From week seven
From week eleven
From week twelve