What can journalism learn from computer science?

Journalism needs an algorithm. That’s not to say machines should replace reporters, but that reporters should be thinking more like machines: systematically. From computer programs that automate news stories, to data-driven narratives and mobile…

SSH/Public Key Cryptography

SSH is Secure SHell. It’s a network protocol for encrypted communication between two computers. In plain English, that means that you can use SSH to access a secure, encrypted command line on a computer that you don’t happen to be sitting in front of. For more details, try…

Code Vocabulary

object: basically a synonym for “thing”. When you see “object” it can stand in for almost any of the terms listed below.

variable: a named container for information. The name can be any word or combination of words, as long as they’re not already used (“reserved”) by the…

How It’s Made: Tow Center/ScraperWiki DataCamp Winning Entry

In early February, the Tow Center hosted a Journalism Data Camp with Knight News Challenge winner ScaperWiki, which provides tools and training to journalists working with difficult data. The goal of the camp was to bring…

Innovation Showcase 2012

On April 28th, 2012, the Tow Center hosted our first “Innovation Showcase”, a public open house designed to introduce the larger community to the original and innovative reporting and publishing work being done at the school. We hope to make this an annual event.

Report: Post Industrial Journalism

There’s no such thing as the news industry anymore. Sounds pretty damning, right? Well, it’s…