Anthony DeBarros

The Pew Research Center’s Census 2010 workshop Jan. 21 featured two panels to help journalists and analysts prep for the decennial count of America and the data dump to follow. Two of my USA TODAY colleagues and I sat in. Paul Overberg, a fellow database editor, led one of the panels.

Pew staff recorded the sessions and is sharing some of the material on its Census site. Here are some of my notes for those who couldn’t make it:

‘Conducting Census 2010′
Presented with the Washington Statistical Society and D.C.-American Association of Public Opinion Research

Robert Groves,  director, U.S. Census Bureau
Constance Citro, director, Committee on National Statistics
Jeffrey Passel, senior demographer, Pew Research Center
Joseph Salvo, director, Population Division, NYC Dept. of City Planning
Scott Keeter, director of survey research, Pew Research Center

Groves led with a broad description of the planning and operational aspects of the count:

(more…)

Filed under: Census by Anthony on Jan 23, 2010
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USA TODAY’s series on school lunch quality, “Trouble on the Tray,” is included in a roundup of noteworthy investigative projects from 2009 by the non-profit investigative reporting team at California Watch. The stories were reported and written by Blake Morrison, Peter Eisler and Elizabeth Weise with data analysis by yours truly.

Also mentioned: The Washington Post’s investigation of the Metro Red Line crash and The New York Times’ series on toxic water.

From the item, by Mark Katches:

Just to be clear, this is by no means a comprehensive list. It represents only a small, informal survey about stories that some highly respected investigative journalists are buzzing about.

Indeed, every year I am amazed at the quality and depth of investigative reporting that American newsrooms continue to produce even as the industry fights hard times. It’s an honor to be mentioned in that company.

Filed under: Analysis by Anthony on Jan 18, 2010
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