Wednesdays: 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.Room 4114
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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. 1.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. 2.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. 3.Our policy on electronic media usage requires that you follow copyright regulations with respect to your use of all materials culled from the Internet. Graduate students can find all three policies here: https://carleton.ca/sjc/ 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. |
Due Dates
1) Dollars and Sense story outline due Mon., Jan. 22, midnight.
2) Dollars and Sense story due Sun., Feb. 4, noon.
3) Backstory outline due Mon., Feb. 12, noon.
4) Access-to-information requests must be filed by Sun., Feb. 18.
5) Data visualization outline due Mon., Feb. 26, noon.
6) Backstory assignment due Sun., March 4, noon.
7) Data visualization due Sun., March 18, noon.
8) Access-to-information assignment due Sun., March 25, noon.
Course Schedule (TOP)
Jan. 10: a. Course introduction b. Elements of storytelling (part one) c. Dollars and Sense (part one)
|| Reading: Digging Deeper, Chapters 1, 2, 9 and Appendix – Finance Facts, 12
Jan. 17: a. Dollars and Sense (part two) b. Assignment: Dollars and Sense story c. Elements of Storytelling (part two)
|| Reading: Digger Deeper, Chapter 10
Jan. 24: a. Introduction to Access to information b. Access-to-information tips: Previously released records c. Assignment: Access to information d. One-on-ones / Research time
|| Reading: Digging Deeper, Chapter 6
Jan. 31: a. Dollars and Sense story due Sun. Feb. 4, noon b. Access-to-information tips: Focusing a request, negotiating, seeking partial releases c. Introduction to historical records d. Assignment: Backstory
|| Reading review of chapters covered so far to prepare for the following week’s quiz
Feb. 7: a. Data (part one) b. Quiz based on readings c. One-on-ones / Research time
|| Reading: Digging Deeper: Chapter 11
|| Optional reading: The Data Journalist: Chapters 2, 4
Feb. 14: a. Access-to-information requests must be filed by Sun., Feb. 18 b. Mid-term checkup via EDC
c. Dollars and Sense story feedback d. Data (part two) e. Assignment: Data visualization
|| Optional reading: The Data Journalist: Chapter 8
Feb. 21: Break Week. No class scheduled.
Feb. 28: a. Backstory assignment due Sun., March 4, noon b. Data (part three)
c. One-on-ones / Research time
March 7: a. Data (part four) b. One-on-ones / Research time
|| Reading review: Digging Deeper: Chapter 10
March 14: a. Data visualization due Sun., March 18, noon b. Backstory feedback c. Access-to-information tips: Making sense of records (decoding documents, chronologies)
|| Reading: Digging Deeper: Chapter 4
March 21: a. Access-to-information assignment due Sun., March 25, noon. b. Public Records (part one)
|| Reading: Digging Deeper, Chapter 8
March 28: a. Data story feedback b. Public Records (part two)
April 4: a. Access-to-information feedback b. Quiz based on readings c. Enterprise journalism tactics
Dollars and Sense story (TOP)
A news story about the City of Ottawa budget. 600 words, due Sun. Feb. 4, noon. (An outline is due Mon., Jan. 22, at midnight)
What is required?
1) A news story about any aspect of the City of Ottawa’s program spending that you obtain from the 2018 online budget tables.
2) The story MUST come from the budget table
3) Upload the story to the first of the four categories on the website that will be created for the assignments.
4) At least two interviews with an expert and an individual with a direct connection to the specific program or program area at the heart of the story. For instance, a community group receiving less money this year compared to the previous year.
What’s to be submitted?
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.
3) In addition to uploading the story to the “Masters2018_1” category on our website, a Word document with your actual story.
4) The uploaded story to the website should have at least two visualizations: a photograph and a the key numbers displayed in a chart, using a program like Infogram. Please click here to obtain a brief tutorial that explains how to upload your numbers. You can also upload your documents to DocumentCloud and annotate the links, using the tutorial in the syllabus’ “Tutorials” section as a guide.
Q. What should be in the draft that I submit?
A. I only need a tightly written lead, based on the principles we’ve discussed in class, followed by a point form description of who you’ve interviewed, the research you’ve conducted, and where you see the story heading.
Q. How can I write a lead if I haven’t completed my research?
A. Write a lead based on the information at hand. Admittedly, the story may changed based on what you discover. However, the exercise of writing early drafts helps sharpen the mind and should keep you focused.
Q. Must the story emerge from the numbers in the budget that I’ve discovered?
A. Yes! However, don’t assume you know the reason behind the increase or decrease until you’ve conducted the research.
Q. Can I write about any city program?
A. Yes
Q. Once I choose a program, should I ask the city for the kind of detailed breakdown we discussed in class?
A. Yes, but if you get stonewalled, then figure out another creative way to write about the program in question using the numbers you have. For instance, you can compare it to spending increases for similar programs, and then find one example that illustrates how the money is spent.
A. Okay, but ideally, I’d like a more detailed of the program area of interest. So, how do I obtain it?
Q. Try going through the city’s communications department.
Q. Can you provide an example of a budget that is broken down into its component parts?
A. Sure thing. Check out the “Cultural Services” breakdown in the worksheet
entitled “CSCF Supp” in this Excel workbook.
Q. Who should I interview?
A. It can be an expert like a city councillor, bureaucrat or university professor, in addition to an individual or organization that benefits from the program in question.
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 you cast your net, the better.
Q. Can I accept an emailed statement as one of the interviews?
A. Yes, but ONLY if it’s a city official. And only after you’ve pushed for something in-person. If you’re stuck with a statement, be sure to set it up in the story by pointing out that the city 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. Can I still submit a draft if I haven’t done any interviews?
A. Absolutely! You can craft a lead, and then spell out who you’d like to interview. This step alone will allow for some healthy brainstorming well ahead of your deadline, which should make it easier to find the right voices.
Backstory assignment (TOP)
A story that draws on archival- or library-based sources from at least 40 years ago (1978 or earlier) to provide historical depth on a current Canadian issue or event. 600 words, due Sun., March 4, noon. (An outline is due Mon., Feb. 12, noon.)
Outline checklist:
Send your outline (pasted in the body of an email, not a Word document) by Mon., Feb. 12, noon. It should be no more than 200 words and include:
- A few words about the original issue or event from 40 or more years ago.
- Why is it timely to revisit this issue or event now? (i.e. what is happening today that makes it worth looking into the backstory?)
- What kinds of historical sources do you hope to use in your research (e.g. newspaper archives, parliamentary debates, archival documents, a memoir, photographs)?
Story Checklist:
The story must include:
a. Evidence of first-hand research involving historical records, photographs, news articles, museum artifacts or similar materials.
b. Comments from someone involved in the original issue or events and-or an expert who is familiar with them and can provide context.
c. At least one photo or other illustration to accompany the story.
d. Copies of two pieces of documentation gathered during research for your story (not more than one or two pages apiece).
e. 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: 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, you might revisit passage of Canada’s first anti-cannabis provision given the current move to legalize marijuana. (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 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.
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 archive, a Canada 411 entry 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 the rights holder or creator.
Data visualization (TOP)
A visualization using a dataset downloaded from a federal, provincial or municipal dataset downloaded from an open data portal.
What is required for the draft visualizations?
1. Visualizations uploaded to the “Masters2018_3” category by Monday, Feb. 26 at noon. Be sure to keep the visualizations in draft format.
2. A brief, point-form explanation of why the visualizations are newsworthy.
3. At least three public records to support the visualization uploaded to DocumentCloud and annotated.
4. ONE Excel workbook with four tabs; the original dataset; working copy; filtered and cleaned-up dataset for the first visualization; cleaned-up and filtered dataset for the second visualization.
What is required for the approved visualizations?
1. Two newsworthy visualizations displaying two different trends from your dataset. For instance, one could be the kind of vertical bar chart you used for the Dollars and Sense assignment; the second could be points displayed using geographic coordinates such as longitude and latitude.
2. The visualizations must be pegged to an event making news. For instance, with all the talk of the spat between B.C. and Alberta involving the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, it would be interesting to download the National Energy Board’s pipeline incident data, and then choose what portion of the data to upload to Infogram or Fusion Tables, which we will learn in class.
3. 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.
4. The public records MUST be uploaded to DocumentCloud with the appropriate annotations
5. Upload the visualizations and explanations to the “Masters2018_3” category
What’s to be submitted?
1. Two visualizations in ONE blog post, each depiction accompanied by a 100-word explanation that explains the news value. The one blog post containing the visualizations must be uploaded to the category “Masters2018_3”
2. A 500-word explanation in a Word document that briefly explains why you chose the visualizations, their news value, and the public records you used to provide context.
3. In your explanations used to set up the visualizations, there must be links to be AT LEAST three different public records uploaded to DocumentCloud. The links MUST take readers to the appropriate annotations in the public record.
4. 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; 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.
Data visualization frequently asked questions
Q: Can I choose any dataset?
A: You have a fair degree of flexibility but be sure to link the visualizations to an event making news.
Q. Can I choose a dataset we’ve used as an example in class?
A: No.
Q: Does the topic have to be national, provincial, or municipal?
A: Either one will do.
Q: So, where do I get my datasets?
A: From a federal, provincial or municipal open-data portal. The links are posted on the syllabus.
Q: How current must my data be?
A: As current as possible, meaning that there should not be a lag time of more than two years, otherwise the data is too out of date.
Q: Do I need to ask for more detailed data?
A: You can, but if the dataset has enough detail, then you should be fine.
Q: Can I use two similar visualizations?
A: For the sake of variety, you should create two completely different ones. For instance, a dataset that contains important numbers may also have geographic information such as longitude and latitude coordinates. In this case, you could upload the numbers from your Excel spreadsheet to Infogram to create bar chart, or plug in three or four key numbers from your analysis and display them as an infographic. In a second visualization, you could then display the longitude and latitude coordinates on a Google map using Fusion Tables, which you will learn in class and with the help of a Digging Deeper online tutorial.
Q: Will I lose marks for neglecting to ensure my visualizations have titles, cutlines, and credits for sources?
A: Yes.
Q: Will I lose marks for neglecting to upload and annotate my public documents in DocumentCloud?
A: Yes.
Q: How should I use the public records?
A: As background information to provide context or advance the story.
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 value and additional news value. The visualization is to add context and background to an event or an issue that’s making news right now.
Q: Do I have to run the dataset by you?
A: Yes, that is the point of submitting a draft. The idea is not to micromanage, but ensure that it has all the information you need to create a successful visualization, and that it is linked to a newsworthy event.
Access to Information assignment (TOP)
An exercise involving preparation and submission of freedom-of-information requests to all levels of government, due Sun., March 25, noon. (Requests must be filed by Sun., Feb. 18.)
a. Copies of one request to EACH of the three levels of government (municipal, provincial, federal).
b. A copy of one request for previously released records from the federal government.
c. Copies of correspondence received/sent by you during the course of each of the four requests.
d. 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.
e. For the pages in (d) above, full-sentence answers to these questions:
(*) What is the information?
(*) From which government and department 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.
Access-to-information requests must be filed by Sun., Feb. 18
Assignment due Sun., March 25, 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. 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.
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 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 d. and e. above 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 or federal government.
Week One (TOP)
What you will learn:
Elements of a good story
Key essentials to following money
Reading the City of Ottawa’s 2018 budget in a spreadsheet
Links:
5206-18-PowerPointOne.ppt
A strong signal: Investors urge Apple to act on youth smartphone addiction
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/apple-should-address-youth-phone-addiction-say-two-large-investors/article37522657/
Apple financial statements
http://investor.apple.com/
Apple’s net income figures in DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4345303-Applie-10-K-2017-as-Filed.html#document/p24/a396997
Salvation Army’s Vanier shelter gets council’s OK
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/council-approves-salvation-army-project-november-22-1.4413878
Salvation Army
https://www.salvationarmy.ca/
List of charities (Charities Listings)
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/charities-giving/charities-listings.html
The Paradise Papers investigation
https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/
Updated: Ottawa city’s draft budget keeps tax promise, puts focus on infrastructure, social services
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/surprise-surprise-citys-draft-2018-budget-would-raise-property-taxes-two-per-cent
City of Ottawa budgets
https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/budget-and-taxes/budget
Week Two (TOP)
What you will learn
Continuation of dollars and sense
Elements of storytelling
Links
Two Maritime provinces announce deals for marijuana regulations and supply
https://www.straight.com/cannabis/1020071/two-maritime-provinces-announce-deals-marijuana-regulations-and-supply
‘This is not a drill’: Accidental ballistic missile alert causes panic in Hawaii
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/world/missile-alert-hawaii-panic-1.4486510
Week Three (TOP)
What you will learn
An introduction to access to information
City Council & Committee Agendas & Minutes
http://ottawa.ca/cgi-bin/docs.pl?t=1&lang=en
Access to Information sites
CANADA
Access to Information: general info
https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/hgw-cgf/oversight-surveillance/atip-aiprp/ai/index-eng.asp
Federal Departments and Agencies
http://canada.ca/en/gov/dept/index.html
Access to Information and Privacy Coordinators
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/atip-aiprp/apps/coords/index-eng.asp
Information listings
https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/hgw-cgf/oversight-surveillance/atip-aiprp/ai/sfgei-srgfff-eng.asp#A
Access to Information request forms
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/tbsf-fsct/350-57_e.asp
Access to Information fillable request form
Search Summaries of Completed ATI Requests
http://data.gc.ca/eng/search/ati?
Exemptions under the Access to Information Act (Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat)
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?section=text&id=13784
Office of the Information Commissioner
Main: http://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/eng/
Complaint form: http://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/eng/lc-cj-logde-complaint-deposer-plainte.aspx
Office of the Privacy Commissioner
http://www.priv.gc.ca
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: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/fippa/disclosure.html
New Brunswick
http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.200949.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
Main: https://foipop.ns.ca/publictools
Info: http://novascotia.ca/is/programs-and-services/information-access-and-privacy.asp
Completed requests: https://foipop.novascotia.ca/foia/#/home
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/
Contacts: http://www.cai.gouv.qc.ca/documents/CAI_liste_resp_acces_eng.pdf
Yukon
Main: http://www.atipp.gov.yk.ca/
Completed requests: http://www.atipp.gov.yk.ca/ati-requests.html
CITIES
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
Hamilton
http://www.hamilton.ca/CityDepartments/CorporateServices/Clerks/MFIPPA_adn_PHIPA.htm
Moncton
http://www.moncton.ca/Government/Right_to_Information_and_Protection_of_Privacy_Act__RTIPPA_.htm
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: http://www.regina.ca/residents/council-committees/learn-city-clerk/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
Vancouver
Main: http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/foi/index.htm
Completed requests: http://vancouver.ca/your-government/information-released-through-foi-requests-this-year.aspx
Waterloo
http://www.waterloo.ca/en/government/freedomofinformation.asp
Winnipeg
Main: http://winnipeg.ca/clerks/fippa/
Completed requests: http://winnipeg.ca/clerks/fippa/AccessToInfo.stm
Additional reading
Week Four (TOP)
What you will learn
Finding stories in historical records
Links
An act of remembrance: The story of WWI Gunner Faus Metcalf, ‘who died … without a chance to live’
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/an-act-of-remembrance-the-story-of-wwi-gunner-faus-metcalf-who-died-without-a-chance-to-live
Thomas Ahearn wired Ottawa, and accomplished so much more
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/thomas-ahearn-wired-ottawa-and-accomplished-so-much-more
NHL at 100: Humble beginnings to billion-dollar business
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-100-anniversary-1.4451737
Library and Archives Canada
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx
Library and Archives opens vaults to public tours
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/library-archives-opens-vaults-public-tours-1.4209427
Virtual Reference Library https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/digital-archive/
Historical parliamentary debates
http://parl.canadiana.ca/
https://www.lipad.ca/
Transcripts of Canadian parliamentary debates since 1901 are now online
https://mobilesyrup.com/2016/
PARLINFO
https://lop.parl.ca/sites/
Early Canadiana http://online.canadiana.ca/
City of Ottawa Archives https://ottawa.ca/en/residents/arts-heritage-and-culture/city-ottawa-archives
Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen, Toronto Star historical databases available through Carleton’s MacOdrum Library
Office of the Information Commissioner: Online complaint form
http://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/eng/lc-cj-logde-complaint-deposer-plainte.aspx
Week Five (TOP)
What you will learn
An introduction to open data
Finding stories stories in easily-accessible online datasets
Links:
Gay Village stalked by a serial killer . . . a second time?
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/02/02/gay-village-stalked-by-a-serial-killera-second-time.html
Federal
Open Government Portal (federal)
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset
Feds to search social media using AI to find patterns of suicide-related behaviour
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/feds-to-search-social-media-using-ai-to-find-patterns-of-suicide-related-behaviour-1.4467167
AI startup enlisted for project to predict suicide risk in Canada
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/government-enlists-ai-startup-for-project-to-predict-suicide-risk-in-canada/article37475839/
Artificial Intelligence (AI) pilot project for surveillance of suicide-related behaviours using social media. (1000196416)
https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-17-00809483
Buyandsell.gc.ca
https://buyandsell.gc.ca/
CANSIM – Table directory – All Section
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a29?lang=eng&groupid=All&p2=17
Incident-based crime statistics, by detailed violations
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&id=2520051&p2=17
Charities Listings (Revenue Canada)
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/lstngs/menu-eng.html
Trade Data Online
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/tdo-dcd.nsf/eng/Home
Merchandise imports, exports and trade balance, customs and balance of payments basis for all countries, by seasonal adjustment and principal trading partners
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&retrLang=eng&id=2280069&&pattern=&stByVal=1&p1=1&p2=31&tabMode=dataTable&csid=
Population by year, by municipality
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&retrLang=eng&id=0510056&pattern=051-0056..051-0064&tabMode=dataTable&srchLan=-1&p1=-1&p2=31
Provinces and territories
Alberta
http://data.alberta.ca/
B.C.
http://www.openinfo.gov.bc.ca/ibc/search/search.page#cateloguehttp://www.openinfo.gov.bc.ca/ibc/index.page?http://www.data.gov.bc.ca/
Nova Scotia
https://data.novascotia.ca/
Newfoundland and Labrador
http://open.gov.nl.ca/
Ontario
http://www.ontario.ca/government/open-data-ontario
Prince Edward Island
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/search/site/?f%5B0%5D=type%3Aservice&f%5B1%5D=field_service_topics%3A2237
Québec Ouvert (les données ouvertes pour le Québec)
http://quebecouvert.org/
Saskatchewan Open Data
http://www.opendatask.ca/
Cities
Edmonton
http://data.edmonton.ca/
Halifax
https://www.halifax.ca/home/open-data
Fredericton
http://www.fredericton.ca/en/open-data
Mississauga
http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/mississaugadata
Oakville
http://oakville.ca/data/
Ottawa
http://data.ottawa.ca/en/?page=1
Toronto
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/data-research-maps/open-data/open-data-catalogue/
Saint John
http://catalogue-saintjohn.opendata.arcgis.com/
St. John’s
http://www.stjohns.ca/event/open-data
Vancouver
http://data.vancouver.ca/
Winnipeg
https://data.winnipeg.ca/
Statistics Canada
CANSIM – Table directory – All Section
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a29?lang=eng&groupid=All&p2=17#n376
Incident-based crime statistics, by detailed violations
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&id=2520051
Statistics Canada Trade Data
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&retrLang=eng&id=2280069&&pattern=&stByVal=1&p1=1&p2=31&tabMode=dataTable&csid=
Week Six (TOP)
What you will learn
Lessons learned from the dollars and sense assignment
Continuation of learning how to use Statistics Canada’s Cansim tables
Discussion of the data visualization assignment
Time permitting, an introduction to Fusion tables
Links
Consumer Price Index, 2000 to Present (Bank of Canada)
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/price-indexes/cpi/
Consumer Price Index, by province (Statistics Canada)
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/cpis01a-eng.htm
Estimates of population by census metropolitan area, sex and age group for July 1, based on the Standard Geographical Classification
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&retrLang=eng&id=0510056&pattern=051-0056..051-0064&tabMode=dataTable&srchLan=-1&p1=-1&p2=31
Statistics Canada turning to sewage to determine pot consumption
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/statistics-canada-turning-to-sewage-to-determine-pot-consumption-1.3802765
Waste water analysis (Statistics Canada tender notice on buyandsell)
https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/search/site/statistics%2520canada%2520cannabis
Federal Contaminated Sites
http://tbs-sct.gc.ca/fcsi-rscf/classification-eng.aspx
Conservatives call for national-security review of Aecon sale to Chinese company
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservatives-call-for-national-security-review-of-aecon-sale-to-chinese-company/article37895752/
Annual Report:Investment Canada Act 2016-17 (DocumentCloud Annotation)
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4378469-Annual-Report-Investment-Canada-Act-2016-17.html#annotation/a404359
Infogram infographics examples
https://infogram.com/examples/infographics
A SportsCentre Infographic of quarterback salaries
A SportsCentre Infographic of NBA franchise values
Visualizing Data with Google Fusion Tables and Tableau Public (Digging Deeper)
https://www.oupcanada.com/higher_education/companion/comm_studies/9780199008490/student_resources/appendix_c.html
Fusion Table Tutorials
http://www.davidmckie.com/visualizations-for-tutorials/
Data Visualization: Chart Dos and Don’ts
https://guides.library.duke.edu/datavis/topten
To obtain the Infogram data visualization checklist, please check here.
Week Seven (TOP)
What we will learn
A review of spreadsheet basics of sorting, filtering, copying and pasting
Discussion of data visualization assignment
Discussion of backstory assignment
Links
Library and Archives finally releases 98-year-old document on sick First Nations children
http://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/archives-releases-document-health-first-nations-1.4540024
Week Eight (TOP)
What we will learn
Continued review spreadsheet basics
PivotTables
Continuation of data visualization techniques
Links:
Non-residential capital and repair expenditures, 2016 (revised), 2017 (preliminary) and 2018 (intentions)
https://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/180228/dq180228b-eng.htm?HPA=1
Federal government can’t do much to fight fake news: Heritage Canada documents
http://www.timescolonist.com/federal-government-can-t-do-much-to-fight-fake-news-heritage-canada-documents-1.23181399
Airline safety plummets
https://okanaganedge.net/2018/02/20/airline-safety-plummets/
TSB releases preliminary 2017 transportation occurrence statistics
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/medias-media/communiques/autres-other/2018/20180220.asp
Transportation Safety Board Online Portal
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset?_organization_limit=0&organization=tsb-bst
WD – Grants and Contributions over $25,000
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/10b22c3b-7ff8-4b12-88ce-7e0765779077
National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) – Bulk Data
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/40e01423-7728-429c-ac9d-2954385ccdfb?_ga=2.213969172.2085770185.1518400656-1331689611.1513217975
Here are 10 Women’s Day ideas that could make the world a better place
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/here-are-10-womens-day-ideas-that-some-say-would-make-the-world-a-better-place
Week Nine (TOP)
What we will learn
Feedback for backstory assignment
Discussion of public records such as inspection and auditors’ general reports
Discussion of annual reports
Links:
Which wards complain the most about roads?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/which-wards-complain-the-most-about-roads-1.4567757
Ottawa nursing home reports reveal fresh cases of abuse, death
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/fresh-cases-of-abuse-death-revealed-in-ottawa-long-term-care-homes
Reports on Long-Term Care Homes
http://publicreporting.ltchomes.net/en-ca/default.aspx
Advertising annual reports – Public Services and Procurement Canada
http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/pub-adv/annuel-annual-eng.html
Judge Advocate General Annual Reports
http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/about-reports-pubs-military-law/index.page
Public Accounts of Canada 2016–2017
https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/recgen/cpc-pac/2017/index-eng.html
Ontario Human Rights Commission Annual Reports
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/annual_reports
Week Ten (TOP)
What we will learn
More tips for successfully using access to information
A continuation of our examination of useful public records
Links:
Canada’s collective memory at risk due to shortcomings at Archives: auditor
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/canada-s-collective-memory-at-risk-due-to-shortcomings-at-archives-auditor-1.2118504
Auditor General: Chapter 7—Documentary Heritage of the Government of Canada—Library and Archives Canada
http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_201411_07_e_39965.html
Library and Archives Canada: Plans 2016-17
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/about-us/report-plans-priorities/rpp-2016-2017/Pages/rpp-2016-17.aspx
Library and Archives Canada: Results 2016-17
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/about-us/departmental-performance-reports/2016-17-departmental-results-report/Pages/2016-17-departmental-results-report.aspx#toc6
Library and Archives Canada: Supplementary information 2016-17
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/about-us/departmental-performance-reports/2016-17-departmental-results-report/Pages/supplementary-information-2016-2017.aspx
Departmental Plans
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/planned-government-spending/reports-plans-priorities.html
Departmental Results
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/departmental-performance-reports.html
Federal Audit and Evaluation Database (From page 55 of Digging Deeper)
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/aedb-bdve/home-accueil-eng.aspx
Federal Public Opinion Research Links ( From page 55 of Digging Deeper)
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/porr/Pages/porr.aspx
Audits, Reviews and Evaluations: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/accountability/other-activities/audits-reviews-and-evaluations/eng/1299843498252/1299843588592
Food Safety links (From page 76 of Digging Deeper)
http://www.oupcanada.com/dd/link4.21
Week Eleven (TOP)
What you will learn
Feedback from visualization assignment
Another review of Statistics Canada’s crime data
A continued review of public records: coroners’s reports; parole hearing; professional disciplinary records; court documents
Links
Homicide in Canada, 2016
https://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171122/dq171122b-eng.htm
Office of the Ontario Chief Coroner: Verdicts and Recommendations
https://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/DeathInvestigations/Inquests/VerdictsRecommendations/OCC_verdicts.html
Links to provincial and territorial coroners reports (From page 81 in Digging Deeper)
http://www.oupcanada.com/dd/link4.28
Example of a Parole Board of Canada decision
http://www.davidmckie.com/Parole%20Board%20Report.pdf
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/bsf-osb.nsf/eng/home
Example of a bankruptcy filing
http://www.davidmckie.com/Parolee%20Bankruptcy%20Filing%20ScreenGrab.JPG
Only Ontario doctor disciplined for over-prescribing opioids agrees to give up his licence
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-only-ontario-doctor-disciplined-for-prescribing-opioids-agrees-to-give/
Discipline Committee Schedule (The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario)
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Whatsnew/Discipline-Committee-Schedule
Law Society of Upper Canada (list of disbarred lawyers)
http://www.lsuc.on.ca/with.aspx?id=2147486087
Shining a light into the shadows: What price-fixing investigations tell Canadians
http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/04335.html
Documents detail allegations in Competition Bureau media investigation
https://www.thestar.com/business/2018/03/22/documents-detail-allegations-in-competition-bureau-media-investigation.html
To download court documents related to the Competition Bureau searches, please click here.
Week Twelve (TOP)
What we will learn
Feedback on access-to-information requests
Best practices for using public records
Links
Ottawa contaminated sites a source of frustration for Mechanicsville neighbourhood
https://capitalnews.ca/ottawa-contaminated-sites-source-frustration-mechanicsville-neighbourhood/
Ontario Human Rights Tribunal gains steam as alternative route for sexual assault cases
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-workplace-sexual-assault-survivors-claim-victory-at-human-rights/
Phoenix pay system issues making it impossible to track hiring of veterans in public service
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/phoenix-pay-troubles-vets-statistics-1.4418728
Government bolsters staff dealing with Phoenix ATIPs
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-phoenix-frustration-privacy-1.4573685
Couple caught in Phoenix fiasco gets action from Ottawa after speaking to CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/couple-cbc-get-action-phoenix-1.4600097
Officials warned Morneau that selling small-business tax changes would be a challenge
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-officials-warned-morneau-that-selling-small-business-tax-changes-would/
Local black Canadians face ‘systemic barriers’ to senior-level jobs, critics say
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/black-population-ottawa-increase-barriers-work-1.4600403
Classified documents reveal Canada’s planned response to 9/11-style attack: Briefing to top general includes scenario for shooting down hijacked airliner posing threat to CN Tower
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/classified-military-operation-noble-eagle-1.4004551
Announcing the 2017 IRE Award winners and finalists
https://www.ire.org/blog/ire-news/2018/04/02/announcing-2017-ire-award-winners-and-finalists/
NPR Maintains Highest Ratings Ever
https://www.npr.org/about-npr/597590072/npr-maintains-highest-ratings-ever?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social
Tutorials(TOP)
From week one
Ottawa budget tutorial.pdf
From week two
To download the Infogram tutorial, please click here.
To download the DocumentCloud tutorial, please click here.
From week six
Infographics.pptx
Infographics handout.pdf
To obtain the Google Fusion Table tutorial, please click here.
To obtain the Statistics Canada tutorial filtering a CANSIM table for crime data, please click here.
From week eight
To obtain the pivot table tutorial, please click here.
To obtain YouTube tutorials on embedding and creating infographics, please click here.
Datasets (TOP)
For week six
FederalContaminatedSitesData.csv
For week eight
WD_GrantsAndContributionsOver25000.csv