Missouri School of Journalism
When journalists are looking for software, they usually greet the words "open source" in one of two ways: with confusion, because open source software is still a daunting mystery; or with delight, because the software is available for free.
Open source software is simply software that is available at no cost and has its source code available to the public. A network of users and developers constantly enhances and expands the program.
Journalists doing CAR have been using robust open-source tools for editing documents, analyzing spreadsheet data and managing databases.
Now, journalists are starting to check out open-source geographic information system (GIS) programs for mapping and analyzing data as an alternative to commercial programs. ArcView, the leading commercial GIS in journalism, costs as much as $1,500 for a single-use license. (IRE members can obtain the software at a lower cost if they take qualifying training).
If you decide to explore open-source tools, though, you might want to get some coaching, as these programs can be difficult to use.
Longtime programmer and GIS user Gary E. Sherman wrote a handy guide, called Desktop GIS: Mapping the Planet with Open Source Tools (Pragmatic Bookshelf, 2008). Sherman also conceived of Quantum GIS (QGIS), one of the programs featured in his book and one that has attracted attention recently from some IRE members on the NICAR-L listserv.
The book is a good place to start when you are ready to sift through the various open-source applications and tools available for GIS mapping. But prepare yourself: Much of Sherman's instruction is not for the faint of heart (or the technologically timid). Although he introduces the reader to the basics, some knowledge of data processing or programming is helpful. Getting into open source GIS tools, and reading Sherman's book, will confirm what you may already know if you have done serious work with data or programming — that you should learn how to use programs that operate in a command-line interface, such as Terminal on the Mac. (Command prompt for PC users.) If you open Terminal, you'll see a prompt, waiting for your instruction. A command-line interface allows you to use an application, such as a database manager, without clicking on your desktop icon or using a GUI — graphical user interface. Many open source GIS (OSGIS) programs will make use of a command-line interface, although you should be able to avoid it if you really want to.
Elizabeth Lucas is a master’s student at the Missouri School of Journalism and a data analyst for the IRE and NICAR database library.
