Democratic Geeks: The Rise of the Data Journalist

Have recently published an article on Data Journalism over at Writing Hood.

A modest and early foray of mine into the world of using official data to create an application is my 2009 Bristol crime map, located here.

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Related articles

• Journalists of the future need data skills, says Berners-Lee (guardian.co.uk)
• Analysing data is the future for journalists, says Tim Berners-Lee (guardian.co.uk)

Jesus and the Dishonest Politician

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The newspaper editors and the bloggers brought in a member of parliament caught with his fingers in the till. They made him stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this man was caught in the act of claiming expenses beyond what is reasonable. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such men. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at him." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the member of parliament still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked him, "Man, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, sir," he said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

John 8:1-11





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British Journalists in Mass Photography Protest Outside Met Police HQ

Recent years have seen an increase in the use of police powers to interfere with the right of British citizens and journalists to take photographs in public places.

Of particular concern is a clause within the Counter Terrorism Act which sanctions the arrest and imprisonment of anyone whose pictures are "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism."

Even before the Act becomes law on Monday 16th Feb, police have been accused on several occasions in recent months of attempting to interfere with journalists and members of the public taking photographs in public. Recent examples include:

• photographer Jess Hurd had her camera forcibly removed and was arrested for 45 minutes while taking photographs of a wedding in London's Docklands in December 2008. National Union of Journalists spokesman Jeremy Dear said of the incident: "Despite the government’s warm words about the right to photograph in public and new Home Office guidelines it appears the routine abuse of these powers goes on."
• a Metropolitan Police Sergeant attempted to forcibly remove the camera of NUJ member Justin Tallis while photographing an anti-BBC demonstration on January 24th. Full story here.
• also in January, an amateur photographer was stopped by police while taking photos of ships in Cleveland. He was asked if he had any terrorist connections and told that his details would be kept on file.
  

Meanwhile, in March 2008, Austin Mitchell MP obtained 190 signatures for an Early Day Motion
protesting the recent spate of incidents involving police officers, police community support officers or wardens attempting to confiscate cameras and other equipment or otherwise interfering with the right of citizens to take photographs in a public place.

In response to these trends, and on the day the above law officially comes into effect, photographers from across the country will be conducting a mass picture taking session outside New Scotland Yard, home of the Metropolitan Police.

The photo shoot is supported by the National Union of Journalists and the British Journal of Photography.

The event also has a facebook page here.

An opportunity for some happy snapping.

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