Getting started

From Reporting Cookbook: www.forjournalists.com/cookbook

Programs and cost

One of the first things you need to get started with mapping is a GIS program. (And if you work in a Mac newsroom, a PC to run it on.)

There are three major GIS programs out there: ArcView, Maptitude and MapInfo. The best program for your paper is the one the bulk of your agencies use because converting from one program to the other is more trouble than it's worth, so the first step should be checking with them. ArcView's probably the most common. It's also the most expensive at $1,500 a license. Maptitude is about $500 and MapInfo doesn't list pricing on its Web site. One possibility is to check your marketing or circulation departments to see if they have one of the programs and will let you use it in the evenings.

The GIS companies often offer free trial CDs for 30 or 60 days that you can use to do a story or two to help convince the powers-that-be to spend the money. IRE offers a discount on ArcView. In exchange for taking an approved training course, such as the NICAR mapping bootcamp or some of the ESRI online or classroom courses, you can get a license for free. You do have to sign up for a three-year support contract for $0 in Year 1, and $400 each in years 2 and 3, but that also gets you any upgrades during those years. Check with IRE for more details.

Putting it to work

Any database with a geographic component, whether it's an address, latitude and longitude, precinct, zip code, county or Census tract or block group, can be mapped. Typical projects include weekly crime maps, demographic maps using Census data, reassessments, test results by school district — the list goes on and on.

Resources

- Mapping the News beat book by Jennifer LaFleur and Andy Lehren (IRE)

- Getting to Know ArcGIS (ESRI Press), IRE/NICAR tipsheets

- Reporters Committee on Freedom of the Press GIS information