Wednesdays: 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.Room 4114
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Ethics and Professional Standards
This is a professional school, and you’ll be held to professional standards in both assignments and conduct. As a student of journalism, you must read and adhere to the School’s policies.
Graduates can find all three policies here https://carleton.ca/sjc/journalism/graduate-studies/resources-current-students/ You are expected to be familiar with these policies and apply them to your work. Failure to abide by them will adversely affect your standing in the course
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Due Dates
1) Dollars and Sense story outline due Tues., Jan. 22, 8 PM.
2) Dollars and Sense story due Sun., Feb. 3, noon.
3) Backstory outline due Mon., Feb. 11, noon.
4) Access-to-information requests must be filed by Sun., Feb. 17.
5) Data visualization outline due Tues., March 5, noon.
6) Backstory assignment due Sun., March 3, noon.
7) Data visualization due Sun., March 17, noon.
8) Access-to-information assignment due Sun., March 24, noon.
Course Schedule (TOP)
Jan. 9: a. Course introduction b. Elements of storytelling (part one)
c. Dollars and Sense (part one)
|| Reading: Digging Deeper, Chapters 1, 2, 9 and Appendix – Finance Facts, 12
Jan. 16: a. Dollars and Sense (part two) b. Assignment: Dollars and Sense story
c. Elements of Storytelling (part two)
|| Reading: Digger Deeper, Chapter 10
Jan. 23: a. Introduction to Access to information b. Access-to-information tips: Previously released records c. Assignment: Access to information d. One-on-ones / Research time
|| Reading: Digging Deeper, Chapter 6
Jan. 30: a. Dollars and Sense story due Sun. Feb. 3, noon b. Access-to-information tips: Focusing a request, negotiating, seeking partial releases c. Introduction to historical records d. Assignment: Backstory
|| Reading review of chapters covered so far to prepare for the following week’s quiz
Feb. 6: a. Data (part one) b. Quiz based on readings, c. Introduction to historical records (part
two) d. One-on-ones / Research time
|| Reading: Digging Deeper: Chapter 11
|| Optional reading: The Data Journalist: Chapters 2, 4
Feb. 13: a. Access-to-information requests must be filed by Sun., Feb. 17
b. Mid-term checkup c. Dollars and Sense story feedback
d. Data (part two) e. Assignment: Data visualization
|| Optional reading: The Data Journalist: Chapter 8
Feb. 20: Break Week. No class scheduled.
Feb. 27: a. Backstory assignment due Sun., March 3, noon b. Data (part three)
c. One-on-ones / Research time
March 6: a. Data (part four) b. One-on-ones / Research time
|| Reading review: Digging Deeper: Chapter 10
March 13: a. Data visualization due Sun., March 17, noon b. continuation with Tableau c.Backstory feedback
|| Reading: Digging Deeper: Chapter 4
March 20: a. Access-to-information assignment due Sun., March 24, noon.
b. Access-to-information tips: Making sense of records (decoding documents, chronologies) c.Public Records (part one)
|| Reading: Digging Deeper, Chapter 8
March 27: a. Data story feedback b. Public Records (part two)
April 3: a. Access-to-information feedback b. Quiz based on readings c. Enterprise journalism tactics
Virtual office hours
We are available to discuss course material and assignments with you by email, phone or after class.
Our virtual office hours are Wednesday 11 a.m. to noon – please advise David or Jim in advance that you would like to speak with one or both of us.
Dollars and Sense story (TOP)
News story about government spending. 600 words, due Sun Feb. 3, noon. (An outline is due Mon., Jan 21, noon)
What is required?
1) A news story about any aspect of the Ontario government’s spending as outlined in tables drawn from the past four public accounts downloaded from this website, as well as the documentation uploaded to DocumentCloud and annotated.
2) The story MUST come from a calculation you’ve made using a public accounts table
3) Upload the story to the first of the four categories on the website, ReportingMethods2019_1.
4) At LEAST two interviews: One with an expert; the second with an individual with a direct connection to the specific program or program area at the heart of the story. For instance, the latter could be a community group receiving less money this year compared to the previous year(s). The expert could be a university or college professor.
What’s to be submitted?
1) An emailed, 500-word explanation in a Word document that briefly explains — in point form, even — the steps you took to get the story, the coordinates of your interviewees and the people you attempted to interview.
2) An Excel sheet with your calculations emailed as an attachment.
3) In addition to uploading the story to the “ReportingMethods2019_1” category on our website, a Word document with your actual story.
4) The uploaded story to the website should have at least two visualizations: a large photograph — column-width — and a the key number(s) displayed in a chart, using a program like Infogram. Please click here to obtain a brief tutorial that explains how to upload your numbers. You MUST also upload your document(s) to DocumentCloud and annotate the appropriate sections, using the tutorial , also located on the syllabus’ “Tutorials” section, as a guide.
Q. What is the context for this assignment?
A. The upcoming Ontario provincial budget.
Q. How can I tell a story about the budget when the province has yet to table it?
A. You can use the public accounts to look at spending patterns of the province’s most expensive
obligations over the last four years — health and education, to name a few — to get a sense of the challenges that lay ahead and the concerns that people have.
Q. Can you give me an example?
A. We know from the public accounts that health and education constitute a large share of government spending. A review of his campaign rhetoric makes it clear that Doug Ford’s government is under pressure to make cuts. Some local health networks have seen their
spending barely keep pace with population growth, and may worry that they will lose ground once the budget is tabled. Your reporting will tease out those concerns.
Q. So, this story can be a lookahead, then?
A. Yes. Or a straightforward story about an unreported spending pattern that you’ve uncovered.
Q. What should be in the draft that I submit?
A. I only need a tightly written lead, based on the principles we’ve discussed in class, followed by a point-form description of who you’ve interviewed, the research you’ve conducted, where you see the story heading, and the key numbers you’ll be using, which should be no more than two or three.
Q. How can I write a lead if I haven’t completed my research?
A. Write a lead based on the information at hand. Admittedly, the story may change based on what you discover. However, the exercise of writing early drafts helps sharpens the mind and should keep you focused. For instance, you can write a lead based on a calculation from the dataset you’ll be provided.
Q. So, can I still submit a draft if I haven’t done any interviews?
A. Absolutely! You can craft a lead, and then spell out who you’d like to interview. This step alone will allow for some healthy brainstorming well ahead of your deadline, which should make it easier to find the right voices.
Q. Must the story emerge from the numbers in the budget that I’ve discovered?
A. Yes! However, don’t assume you know the reason behind the increase or decrease until you’ve conducted the research.
Q. What documentation should I use?
A. At the very least, you must upload to DocumentCloud, then annotate the appropriate sections of Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements and the Ministry Statements and Schedules – Volume 1, 2017-2018.
Q. Must I provide a hyperlink to the annotation in my story?
A. Yes. This is a MUST. This allows readers to quickly locate and digest the source of your information from the type of primary records discussed in Digging Deeper.
Q. Will I be deducted marks for neglecting to upload and annotate my documents?
A. Yes.
Q. Will I have to use other records besides those from public accounts?
A. Probably. You can start with the last provincial budget, and go from there. For instance, if you are writing about health funding for a local health network, you would also want to read that institution’s latest annual report to gather further background, or minutes from a committee meeting of Ontario MPPs discussing concerns. In other words, the public accounts should be just a starting point. I’ll be looking for evidence of shoe-leather reporting; that is, digging into other public records discussed in our textbook for further sources of information to complement your findings.
Q. Can I write about any government program or service?
A. To make your life easier, I would stick to the ones that we’ve suggested in class. If you choose an area beyond our focus, then please run it by me first.
Q. What if I have trouble contacting people?
A. To be on the safe side, avoid relying on a limited number of sources. The wider you cast your net, the better. And avoid waiting until the last minute by exercising good time management.
Q. Can I accept an emailed statement as one of the interviews?
A. Yes, but ONLY if it’s a government official. And only after you’ve pushed for something in-person. If you’re stuck with a statement, be sure to set it up in the story by pointing out that the official in question refused an interview, choosing instead to issue a statement that avoided answering the question. Then, be sure to paraphrase and quote selectively from the statement, if at all. In short, no long, boring, jargon-laden statements that say nothing, but give the appearance of accountability.
Q. Is it important to properly cite the source of my analysis?
A. Absolutely. This is crucial. The key number cited in your lede should be “according to an analysis of the spending table from Ontario’s Public Accounts Volume 1 data.”
Q. Will I lose a mark for neglecting to cite the source of my analysis?
A. Yes, half a grade.
Q. Do I have to publish the story?
A. Initially, make sure it’s in draft format. Once it is marked, and approved for publication, feel free to make the suggested changes, and then publish.
Q. After receiving the green light to publish, can I also offer it to Capital Current?
A. Yes, by all means.
Backstory assignment (TOP)
Outline checklist:
Send your outline (pasted in the body of an email, not a Word document) by Mon., Feb. 11, noon.
It should be no more than 200 words and include:
A few words about the original issue or event from 40 or more years ago.
Why is it timely to revisit this issue or event now? (i.e. what is happening today that makes it worth looking into the backstory?)
What kinds of historical sources do you hope to use in your research (e.g. newspaper archives, parliamentary debates, archival documents, a memoir, photographs)?
Story Checklist:
The story must include:
- Evidence of first-hand research involving historical records, photographs, news articles, museum artifacts or similar materials.
- Comments from someone involved in the original issue or events and-or an expert who is familiar with them and can provide context.
- At least one photo or other illustration to accompany the story.
- Copies of two pieces of documentation gathered during research for your story (not more than one or two pages apiece).
- For EACH of the two pieces of documentation, full-sentence answers to these questions:
(*) What is the documentation?
(*) How did you find/obtain it?
(*) Why was the documentation helpful?
Backstory: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I hand in my assignment?
A: Upload everything – including documents and answers to the three questions – to the relevant “category” of the syllabus (ReportingMethods2019_2). Save it as a draft. It doesn’t matter what format you choose, but most supporting material should be in PDF, .jpeg or Word format. You can also use DocumentCloud to upload pages of your records to the syllabus.
Q: Can I write about non-Canadian events?
A: No.
Q: Does my topic have to be a national issue?
A: No, it could be a provincial or local one.
Q: Can I just revisit any interesting episode from the past?
A: No, there has to be a reason you’re writing about this subject – a clear and substantial connection to something happening today. For instance, given the dawn of light-rail transit in Ottawa, you could look at Ottawa’s first streetcar system. (DON’T DO THIS ACTUAL TOPIC.)
Q: I am writing about events that took place 100 years ago and everyone involved is dead. Will that work?
A: Yes, that’s fine, and it’s why I have made it optional to interview someone involved in the original events. But perhaps you will find a diary entry or autobiography quotation that will help bring a deceased person’s voice into the story. And if your story involves events from 50 or even 60 years ago, I would hope you could track someone down from the era to interview.
Q: What sort of documentation do you want?
A: It could be almost anything that helped you do the story: a photo of a relevant page from a memoir, a page from an archive, a Canada 411 entry that helped you find someone to interview, an excerpt from an interview transcript – the choice is yours.
Q: Could my illustration(s) accompanying the piece double as my documentation?
A: Quite possibly, if they helped you do the story. Be sure you have permission to post the photos or other illustrations from the rights holder or creator.
Data visualization (TOP)
A digital visualization that tells a story based on analysis of data from a government open-data portal, due Sun., March 17, noon. (An outline is due Tues March 5, noon.)
What is required for emailed draft visualizations?
1. The dataset(s) you want to use in an Excel workbook that contains three tabs: the original dataset with the URL pasted into the
first available cell in the first row; two subsequent worksheets with the filtered datasets that will be visualized.
2. A brief, point-form explanation of why the data tables are newsworthy.
3. At least two public records to support the visualization uploaded to DocumentCloud and annotated.
What is required for the approved visualizations?
1. Two newsworthy visualizations displaying two different trends from your dataset. For instance, one could be the kind of vertical bar chart you used for the Dollars and Sense assignment; the second could be points displayed using geographic coordinates such as longitude and latitude.
2. The visualizations must be pegged to an event making news. For instance, with all the talk of the spat between B.C. and Alberta involving the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, it would be interesting to download the National Energy Board’s pipeline incident data, and then choose what portion of the data to upload to Infogram or Fusion Tables, which we will learn in class.
3. You must use up to 100 words to set up each visualization, using AT LEAST three of the kinds of public records described in chapter 4 of Digging Deeper for contextual background information.
4. The public records MUST be uploaded to DocumentCloud with the appropriate annotations
5. Upload the visualizations and explanations to the “Masters2018_3” category
What’s to be submitted?
1. Two visualizations in ONE blog post, each depiction accompanied by a 100-word explanation that explains the news value. The one blog post containing the visualizations must be uploaded to the category “Masters2018_3”
2. A 500-word explanation in a Word document that briefly explains why you chose the visualizations, their news value, and the public records you used to provide context.
3. In your explanations used to set up the visualizations, there must be links to be AT LEAST three different public records uploaded to DocumentCloud. The links MUST take readers to the appropriate annotations in the public record.
4. The Excel workbook that contains four worksheets: worksheet one – the original table with the URL pasted into the first available cell in the first row; worksheet two – the working copy; worksheet three – the filtered and cleaned-up table used to provide the first visualization; worksheet four – the cleaned-up table used to provide the second visualization.
Data visualization frequently asked questions
Q: Can I choose any dataset?
A: You have a fair degree of flexibility but be sure to link the visualizations to an event making news.
Q. Can I choose a dataset we’ve used as an example in class?
A: No.
Q: Does the topic have to be national, provincial, or municipal?
A: Either one will do.
Q: So, where do I get my datasets?
A: From a federal, provincial or municipal open-data portal. The links are posted on the syllabus.
Q: How current must my data be?
A: As current as possible, meaning that there should not be a lag time of more than two years, otherwise the data is too out of date.
Q: Do I need to ask for more detailed data?
A: You can, but if the dataset has enough detail, then you should be fine.
Q: Can I use two similar visualizations?
A: For the sake of variety, you should create two completely different ones. For instance, a dataset that contains important numbers may also have geographic information such as longitude and latitude coordinates of names of provinces and cities. In this case, you could upload the numbers from your Excel spreadsheet to Infogram to create bar chart, or plug in three or four key numbers from your analysis and display them as an infographic. In a second visualization, you could then display the geographic coordinates in a program like Tableau which, in addition to the tutorials posted under week eight of the tutorials section, can also be found in this Digging Deeper online tutorial.
Q: Will I lose marks for neglecting to ensure my visualizations have titles, cutlines, and credits for sources?
A: Yes.
Q: Will I lose marks for neglecting to upload and annotate my public documents in DocumentCloud?
A: Yes.
Q: How should I use the public records?
A: As background information to provide context or advance the story.
Q: Do I have to interview anyone?
A: No. The point of this assignment is to see how adept you are at choosing information from a publicly available dataset to
display, and then consulting public records to add value and additional news value. The visualization is to add context and background to an event or an issue that’s making news right now.
Q: Do I have to run the dataset by you?
A: Yes, that is the point of submitting a draft. The idea is not to micromanage, but ensure that it has all the information you need to create a successful visualization, and that it is linked to a newsworthy event.
Access to Information assignment (TOP)
An exercise involving preparation and submission of freedom-of-information requests to all levels of government, due Sun., March 24, noon. (Requests must be filed by Sun., Feb. 17.)
Assignment checklist
- Copies of one request to EACH of the three levels of government (municipal, provincial, federal).
- A copy of one request for previously released records from the federal government.
- Copies of correspondence received/sent by you during the course of each of the four requests.
- A few lines detailing what you have done to track the progress of each of the four requests, including the status of each as of March 24.
- Copies of at least two – but not more than five – particularly relevant pages of information from a previously released set of records from any ONE level of government.
- For the pages in (e) above, full-sentence answers to these questions:
(*) What is the information?
(*) From which government and department did these pages come?
(*) How would these records be helpful in researching or writing a story? Please try to highlight relevant facts or passages in the records.
Access-to-information requests must be filed by Sun., Feb. 17
Assignment due Sun., March 24, noon.
Access-to-information assignment questions and answers
Q: How do I hand in my assignment?
A: Upload everything – including documents and answers to the three questions – to the relevant “category” of the syllabus (ReportingMethods2019_4). Save it as a draft. It doesn’t matter what format you choose, but most supporting material should be in PDF, .jpeg or Word format. You can also use DocumentCloud to upload pages of your records to the syllabus.
Q: Do all of my requests have to be on the same topic?
A: No. Request whatever records you might find useful.
Q: Do you want every piece of correspondence related to the four requests?
A: I want to see all relevant correspondence to help me understand how things proceeded.
Q: I dealt with agencies largely on the phone. What should I do?
A: Please give me dates and brief summaries of these calls wherever possible.
Q: I forgot to make copies of my requests. What should I do?
A: Please try to recreate the wording and date of your original requests as best you can.
Q: Can 5. and 6. above be based on previously released pages that I find online?
A: Yes, though the pages must come from a site administered by a municipal, provincial or federal government.
Week One (TOP)
What you will learn
Elements of a good story
Key essentials to following money
Uploading DocumentCloud
Looking at ledes
Links
5206-19-PowerPointOne.ppt
5206-19-PowerPointTwo.pptx
Ontario Public Accounts – 2014-18 Expenses.zip
Bill 66 raises concern
https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/bill-66-raises-concern
Community Living Upper Ottawa Valley looks for partners to help provide more inclusive housing
https://www.pembrokeobserver.com/news/local-news/community-living-upper-ottawa-valley-looks-for-partners-to-help-provide-more-inclusive-housing
Northern girl’s illness remains a mystery
https://www.thesudburystar.com/news/local-news/northern-girls-illness-remains-a-mystery
Candle companies are selling the smell of Christmas. But what is that?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/the-smell-of-the-holidays-is-in-the-air-what-kind-of-candle-is-your-go-to-christmas-scent/2018/12/04/ce0e5ca6-dc5e-11e8-85df-7a6b4d25cfbb_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.76943d5739d5
Lottery tickets stolen in Woodstock
https://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/news/local-news/lottery-tickets-stolen-in-woodstock
General Motors
https://www.gm.com/
Ontario Expenses and Revenues from the 2017-18 budget
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4438684-OntarioLiberals-budget2018-En.html
BlackBerrys, a boat and a $40 clock: Here’s what people are stealing from the government
https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/ottawa-recorded-6-8-million-in-stolen-property-4-3-billion-in-debt-write-offs-last-year
2016-17 federal public accounts
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4114038-2017-vol3-Eng.html#document/p143/a474223
Wynne’s Liberals left $15B deficit, $8B more than reported in last budget, Fedeli says
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-independent-commission-accounting-practices-1.4831323
Ontario public accounts 2017-18 consolidated statements highlights
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5636495-Public-Accounts-of-Ontario-2017-2018.html#annotation/a472201
Ontario 2017-2018 Public Accounts
https://economics.td.com/ontario-public-accounts
The Public Accounts of Ontario 2017-18
https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-accounts-ontario-2017-18
This dataset, extracted from the Public Accounts of Ontario: Volume 1, outlines government spending by ministry
https://www.ontario.ca/data/public-accounts-volume-1-data
The Public Accounts of Ontario 2016-17
https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-accounts-ontario-2016-17#section-0
The Public Accounts of Ontario 2015-16
https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-accounts-ontario-2015-16
The Public Accounts of Ontario 2014-15
https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-accounts-ontario-2014-15
SEDAR
https://www.sedar.com/
Federal Lobbyist Registry
https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/eic/site/012.nsf/eng/00035.html
Week Two (TOP)
What you will learn
Continuation of dollars and sense
Elements of storytelling
Links
Ontario government expected to cut tuition fees for Canadian students by 10 per cent
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-government-expected-to-cut-tuition-fees-for-canadian-students/
Ontario to cut tuition fees by 10 per cent
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/01/15/province-to-cut-tuition-fees-by-10-per-cent.html
2018 Ontario Budget
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4438684-OntarioLiberals-budget2018-En.html#document/p4/a475605
Local Health Integration Networks (Ontario)
http://www.lhins.on.ca/
Champlain Local Health Integrated Network Annual Report
http://www.champlainlhin.on.ca/Accountability/AnnualReports.aspx
Annual demographic estimates by census metropolitan area, age and sex, based on the Standard Geographical Classification
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710007801
Key Inflation Indicators and the Target Range
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/indicators/key-variables/key-inflation-indicators-and-the-target-range/
Ontario Hansard
https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/house-documents
Municipal decision day looms for pot sales in Ontario
https://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/news/local-news/lfp-longform-municipal-decision-day-looms-for-pot-sales-in-ontario/wcm/7e0d1365-ef3b-430c-9b1f-6938c0629c0e
Vancouver’s first two licensed marijuana retailers open for business
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-s-first-2-licensed-marijuana-retailers-open-for-business-1.4967576
Week Three (TOP)
What you will learn
An introduction to access to information
Links
General feedback on drafts.pdf
Ford government poised to dissolve regional health agencies, sources say
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/lhin-ontario-doug-ford-local-health-integration-networks-1.4980509
Province eyeing creation of ‘super health agency,’ sources say
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/01/17/province-eyeing-creation-of-super-health-agency-sources-say.html
Managing Transformation:A Modernization Action Plan for Ontario
https://files.ontario.ca/ey_report_2018_en.pdf
The Public Accounts of Ontario 2017-18
https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-accounts-ontario-2017-18
Financial Accountability Office
https://www.fao-on.org/en/
Financial Accountability Office – Economic and Budget Outlook: Assessing
Ontario’s Medium-term Budget Plan (uploaded to DocumentCloud)
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5690751-Financial-Accountability-Office-of-Ontario-Fall.html
Ontario Budget 2018
http://budget.ontario.ca/2018/index.html
2018 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review
https://www.fin.gov.on.ca/fallstatement/2018/index.html
Ontario Hansard search
https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/house-documents
Ontario’s fiscal watchdog says deficit is $1.2 billion lower than claimed, but warns of huge future shortfalls
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/9075723-ontario-s-fiscal-watchdog-says-deficit-is-1-2-billion-lower-than-claimed-but-warns-of-huge-future-shortfalls/
Government for the People to Lower Student Tuition Burden by 10 per cent
https://news.ontario.ca/maesd/en/2019/01/government-for-the-people-to-lower-student-tuition-burden-by-10-per-cent.html
Students welcome tuition cut, but worry over OSAP changes
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-tuition-cut-reaction-1.4982620
Ontario 10 per cent cut from tuition fees
https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1588954
Ford government cuts student aid under cover of tuition cuts
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2019/01/17/ford-government-cuts-student-aid-under-cover-of-tuition-cuts.html
NDP reveals secret health care privatization bill written by Ford government
https://www.ontariondp.ca/news/ndp-reveals-secret-health-care-privatization-bill-written-ford-government
Elliott refuses to say whether Ontario government will expand private delivery of health-care services
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-elliott-refuses-to-say-whether-ontario-government-will-expand-private/
Week Four (TOP)
What you will learn
Finding stories in historical records
Links:
Week Five (TOP)
What you will learn
A continuation of the use of historical records
An introduction to open data
Links
PC political staffer and father of two autistic teens quits in anger over Ontario autism overhaul
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/02/06/pc-political-staffer-and-father-of-two-autistic-teens-quits-in-anger-over-ontario-autism-overhaul.html
Ford Government’s One-Size-Fits-All Approach Fails All Children with Autism
https://ontarioautismcoalition.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/OAC-Press-Release-Feb.-6-2019.pdf
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Library and Archives Canada http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx
Virtual Reference Library https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/digital-archive/
Historical parliamentary debates
http://parl.canadiana.ca/
https://www.lipad.ca/
PARLINFO
https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA
Early Canadiana http://online.canadiana.ca/
City of Ottawa Archives https://ottawa.ca/en/residents/arts-heritage-and-culture/city-ottawa-archives
Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen, Toronto Star historical databases available through Carleton’s MacOdrum Library
https://library.carleton.ca/find/news/news-databases
Freedom-of-information links
FEDERAL
Access to Information: general info
https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/hgw-
Federal Departments and Agencies
http://canada.ca/en/gov/dept/
Access to Information and Privacy Coordinators
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/atip-
Information listings
https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/hgw-
Access to Information request forms
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/tbsf-
Access to Information fillable request form
Make a federal request online
https://atip-aiprp.tbs-sct.gc.
Search Summaries of Completed ATI Requests
https://open.canada.ca/en/
Exemptions under the Access to Information Act (Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat)
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/
Office of the Information Commissioner
Main: http://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/
Complaints: http://www.oic-ci.
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES
Alberta
http://www.servicealberta.ca/
British Columbia
Main: http://www.gov.bc.ca/
Completed requests: http://www2.gov.bc.
Manitoba
Main: http://www.gov.mb.ca/
Completed requests: http://www.gov.mb.
New Brunswick
http://www2.gnb.ca/content/
Newfoundland and Labrador
Main: http://www.atipp.gov.nl.
Completed requests: http://atipp-search.
Northwest Territories
https://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/
Nova Scotia
Main: https://foipop.ns.ca/
Info: http://novascotia.ca/is/
Completed requests: https://beta.
The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia
http://www.nsrighttoknow.ca/
Nunavut
http://www.gov.nu.ca/eia/
Ontario
https://www.ontario.ca/page/
Prince Edward Island
https://www.
Quebec
Main: http://www.cai.gouv.qc.
Contacts: http://www.cai.gouv.
Saskatchewan
http://www.saskatchewan.ca/
Yukon
Main: http://www.atipp.gov.yk.
Completed requests: http://www.atipp.
CITIES
Calgary
http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-
Edmonton
http://www.edmonton.ca/city_
Fredericton
http://www.fredericton.ca/en/
Halifax Regional Municipality
http://www.halifax.ca/
Hamilton
http://www.hamilton.ca/
Moncton
http://www.moncton.ca/
Montreal
http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/
Ottawa
Main: http://ottawa.ca/en/
Completed requests: https://ottawa.ca/
Regina
Main: http://www.regina.ca/
Completed requests: http://open.regina.
Saskatoon
https://www.saskatoon.ca/city-
Toronto
https://www.toronto.ca/city-
Vancouver
Main: http://vancouver.ca/
Completed requests: http://vancouver.ca/
Waterloo
http://www.waterloo.ca/en/
Winnipeg
Main: http://winnipeg.ca/
Completed requests: http://winnipeg.ca/
Civil penalties for polluters dropped dramatically in Trump’s first two years, analysis shows
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/civil-penalties-for-polluters-dropped-dramatically-in-trumps-first-two-years-analysis-shows/2019/01/24/7384d168-1a82-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html?utm_term=.5fbfc3a22aec&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics–alert-national&wpmk=1
Environmental Protection Agency Enforcement and Compliance History Online
https://echo.epa.gov/
Statistics Canada’s data tables
Public Tenders: https://buyandsell.gc.ca/
https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tenders/download-tenders-data
Access To Information (open data portal)
https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/0797e893-751e-4695-8229-a5066e4fe43c
Week Six (TOP)
What you will learn
Lessons learned from the dollars and sense assignment
Continuation of learning how to use Statistics Canada’s data tables
Discussion of the data visualization assignment
Links
How Companies Like Apple Sprinkle Secrets in Earnings Reports
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/10/business/secrets-corporate-reports-apple.html
SEDAR
https://www.sedar.com/
SNC Lavalin Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements Q3
https://www.documentcloud.org/search/Project:%20%22Corporate%20filings%22
Make an access to information or personal information request
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/access-information-privacy/access-information/request-information.html
SNC-Lavalin’s failure to secure deferred prosecution comes after years of legal fights, lobbying blitz
https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/snc-failure-to-secure-deferred-prosecution-comes-after-years-of-legal-fights-lobbying-blitz
Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada
https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/eic/site/012.nsf/eng/h_00000.html
Ontario Lobbyist Registry
http://www.oico.on.ca/home/lobbyists-registration/overview
Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists, British Columbia
https://www.lobbyistsregistrar.bc.ca/
Quebec Lobbyists Registry
https://www.commissairelobby.qc.ca/en/lobbyists-registry/
‘She’s in a hard place’: Solicitor-client and cabinet rules bind Wilson-Raybould from speaking
https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/shes-in-a-hard-place-solicitor-client-and-cabinet-rules-bind-wilson-raybould-from-speaking?utm_campaign=magnet&utm_source=article_page&utm_medium=recommended_articles
Buyandsell.gc.ca
https://buyandsell.gc.ca/
Parliament’s security service looks for cyber guru
https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/canada/parliaments-security-service-looks-for-cyber-guru-281840/
Cyber Security Speacialist (PPS-RFP-2019-033)
https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-19-00862670
Feds to search social media using AI to find patterns of suicide-related behaviour
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/feds-to-search-social-media-using-ai-to-find-patterns-of-suicide-related-behaviour-1.4467167
AI startup enlisted for project to predict suicide risk in Canada
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/government-enlists-ai-startup-for-project-to-predict-suicide-risk-in-canada/article37475839/
Artificial Intelligence (AI) pilot project for surveillance of suicide-related behaviours using social media. (1000196416)
https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-17-00809483
Merx
https://www.merx.com/
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada’s data tables
Hate crimes reached all-time high in 2017, Statistics Canada says
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/statistics-canada-2017-hate-crime-numbers-1.4925399
Police-reported hate crime, 2017
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/181129/dq181129a-eng.htm
Statistics Canada Releases Schedule
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dai-quo/cal3-eng.htm
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dai-quo/cal1-eng.htm
Federal
Open Government Portal (federal)
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset
CANSIM – Table directory – All Section
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a29?lang=eng&groupid=All&p2=17
Incident-based crime statistics, by detailed violations
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&id=2520051&p2=17
Charities Listings (Revenue Canada)
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/lstngs/menu-eng.html
Trade Data Online
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/tdo-dcd.nsf/eng/Home
Merchandise imports, exports and trade balance, customs and balance of payments basis for all countries, by seasonal adjustment and principal trading partners
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&retrLang=eng&id=2280069&&pattern=&stByVal=1&p1=1&p2=31&tabMode=dataTable&csid=
Population by year, by municipality
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&retrLang=eng&id=0510056&pattern=051-0056..051-0064&tabMode=dataTable&srchLan=-1&p1=-1&p2=31
Provinces and territories
Alberta
http://data.alberta.ca/
B.C.
http://www.openinfo.gov.bc.ca/ibc/search/search.page#cateloguehttp://www.openinfo.gov.bc.ca/ibc/index.page?http://www.data.gov.bc.ca/
Nova Scotia
https://data.novascotia.ca/
Newfoundland and Labrador
http://open.gov.nl.ca/
Ontario
http://www.ontario.ca/government/open-data-ontario
Prince Edward Island
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/search/site/?f%5B0%5D=type%3Aservice&f%5B1%5D=field_service_topics%3A2237
Québec Ouvert (les données ouvertes pour le Québec)
http://quebecouvert.org/
Saskatchewan Open Data
http://www.opendatask.ca/
Cities
Edmonton
http://data.edmonton.ca/
Halifax
https://www.halifax.ca/home/open-data
Fredericton
http://www.fredericton.ca/en/open-data
Mississauga
http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/mississaugadata
Oakville
http://oakville.ca/data/
Ottawa
http://data.ottawa.ca/en/?page=1
Toronto
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/data-research-maps/open-data/open-data-catalogue/
Saint John
http://catalogue-saintjohn.opendata.arcgis.com/
St. John’s
http://www.stjohns.ca/event/open-data
Vancouver
http://data.vancouver.ca/
Winnipeg
https://data.winnipeg.ca/
Week Seven (TOP)
What we will learn
A review of the principles of open data
Discussion of data visualization assignment
A review of spreadsheet basics of sorting, filtering, copying and pasting, open-data portals from
Statistics Canada, federal, provincial and municipal websites
Links:
In the dark: The cost of Canada’s data deficit
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-in-the-dark-the-cost-of-canadas-data-deficit/
Divorce and marriage data crucial for understanding Canada’s public health, researchers argue
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-divorce-and-marriage-data-crucial-for-understanding-canadas-public/
Health-care data in the cloud? Early adopter took a giant leap, and it paid off
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-health-care-data-in-the-cloud-early-adopter-took-a-giant-leap-and-it/
The data game: How information on everything from flight patterns to parking lots can reveal valuable clues about where the market is heading
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/article-quandl-and-the-invasive-use-of-data/?intcmp=notifications
Statistics Canada’s data tables
Estimates of the components of natural increase, quarterly
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710005901
New report highlights ‘alarming’ state of Canadian kids’ well-being
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/new-report-highlights-alarming-state-of-canadian-kids-well-being-1.4078958
Infant deaths and mortality rates, by age group
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310071301
Dangerous offender Stanley Tippett denied parole, still denies crimes
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2018/09/27/dangerous-offender-stanley-tippett-denied-parole-still-denies-crimes/
Conditional Release Decisions 2017-2018
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/c07d8ddf-54f6-42db-a58f-c6bd9a371058
University of Toronto in negotiations with Ontario over admission cuts
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/university-of-toronto-in-negotiations-with-ontario-over-admission-cuts/article34677256/
University enrolment
https://www.ontario.ca/data/university-enrolment
80,639 requests later, Ottawa bylaw might make case for more resources
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/80639-requests-later-ottawa-bylaw-might-make-case-for-more-resources
2019 Monthly Service Requests
http://data.ottawa.ca/dataset/2019monthlyservicerequests
Ottawa ward population
https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/get-know-your-city/statistics-and-economic-profile/statistics/current-population-and#ward-year-end-2018
Week Eight (TOP)
What we will learn
Continued review spreadsheet basics
PivotTables
Continuation of data visualization techniques
Tableau Public
Links:
Homicide victims, number and rates (per 100,000 population)
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3510006801
2019 Monthly Service Requests
http://data.ottawa.ca/dataset/2019monthlyservicerequests
Ottawa ward population
https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/get-know-your-city/statistics-and-economic-profile/statistics/current-population-and#ward-year-end-2018
Tableau Desktop 10.5.5
https://www.tableau.com/support/releases/desktop/10.5.5
City of Ottawa Feb. 2019 Service Requests in Tableau
http://davidmckie.com/category/digi-1examples/
Week Nine (TOP)
What we will learn
Self-evaluation follow-up
A continuation of visualizations using Tableau
Discussion of visualization assignment
One-on-one
Feedback for backstory assignment
Links
Canada grounds Boeing 737 Max 8, bans jet from airspace following fatal crashes
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/garneau-boeing-ethiopia-crash-1.5054234
Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS)
http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CADORS-SCREAQ/m.aspx?lang=eng
Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Report System
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/a348c1d1-2392-4595-b5e2-c6a244a7e87f
Aviation occurrence data from January 2004 to present
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/140be1eb-1f52-4ec1-aaad-2d66ccf8660f
Canada adds nearly 56K full-time jobs in February
https://globalnews.ca/news/5034089/canada-feb-2019-jobs-report/
Statistics Canada Feb 2018 Labour Force Survey
https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/start
Total Fire Incident Volume
http://data.ottawa.ca/dataset/fire-incident-volume/resource/6a8dea57-652c-48a9-abc6-ca550a175abc
City of Ottawa Collisions – 2017
http://data.ottawa.ca/dataset/collisiondata2017/resource/28926362-7988-40ed-bf9c-14a114f8044b
Week Ten (TOP)
What we will learn
Strategies for making sense of records obtained through access to information
Public records (part one)
Links
Hawaii Panics After Alert About Incoming Missile Is Sent in Error
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/
MissileAlertA-2017-0041-PS.pdf
Government of Canada Employee Contact Information
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/8ec4a9df-b76b-4a67-8f93-cdbc2e040098
SNC-Lavalin CEO urged cabinet to change policies ‘expeditiously’ in 2017 letter
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/snc-lavalin-ceo-urged-cabinet-to-change-policies-expeditiously-in-2017-letter-1.4323489
SNC-Lavalin letter to the public services minister uploaded to DocumentCloud
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5758325-Public-Services-Meeting-With-SNC-Lavalin-to.html#annotation/a487691
Week Eleven (TOP)
What you will learn
Data journalism assignment feedback
Discussion of public records (part one)
Links
Ontario Power Generation executives dominate 2018 Sunshine List top 10
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-releases-annual-sunshine-list-for-2018-1.5073389
Where is the Islamic State group still active around the world?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47691006
What makes an award-winning data journalism project?
https://datajournalismawards.org/2019/03/22/what-makes-an-award-winning-data-journalism-project/
Federal mandate letters
https://pm.gc.ca/eng/mandate-letters
Departmental Plans
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/planned-government-spending/reports-plans-priorities.html
Departmental Results
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/departmental-performance-reports.html
Mayor Watson has no problem with auditor general investigating Stage 2 procurement
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/mayor-watson-has-no-problem-with-auditor-general-investigating-stage-2-procurement
Office of the Auditor General (City of Ottawa)
https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/accountability-and-transparency
Federal Audits
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/reports/audits.html
Federal Public Opinion Research Links ( From page 55 of Digging Deeper)
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/porr/Pages/porr.aspx
Audits, Reviews and Evaluations: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/accountability/other-activities/audits-reviews-and-evaluations/eng/1299843498252/1299843588592
Food Safety links (From page 76 of Digging Deeper)
http://www.oupcanada.com/dd/link4.21
Week Twelve (TOP)
What we will learn
A quiz
Access-to-information assignment feedback
Public records, part two
Interviewing scenario: SNC-Lavalin news conference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sharing best practices
Links:
5206-19-PowerPointSeven.ppt
Coroner’s jury releases recommendations in Carleton student’s 2016 suicide
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/coroners-jury-to-release-recommendations-in-carleton-students-2016-suicide
Office of the Chief Coroner – verdicts and recommdations (Ontario)
https://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/DeathInvestigations/Inquests/VerdictsRecommendations/OCC_verdicts.html
Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott kicked out of Liberal Party caucus
https://globalnews.ca/news/5123526/liberal-caucus-wilson-raybould-jane-philpott/?fbclid=IwAR2CcZ6EEiSVSEfjsUvBbjZvfP4Efd-UeNs4AA0jzNLA_7QQTC-yqSfddDc
Tutorials(TOP)
From week one
Creating annotations in DocumentCloud
To download the Infogram tutorial, please click here.
From week two
From week six
From week seven
From week eight
Aneurin Bosley’s Tableau Tutorials
Getting data into Tableau:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrt8hyOaZRI
Working with data:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7nuVSsXWeM
Building dashboards:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es50LH0Pbiw
Aneurin Bosley’s Tableau Tutorials in cuLearn
Merging data and calculations: https://culearn.carleton.ca/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=1152944
Tableau’s Free Training Videos
https://www.tableau.com/learn/training
Datasets (TOP)
From week one
Ontario Public Accounts tables 2014-15:2017-18
For week two
OntarioPublicAccounts_2014-18_assignment.zip
For week six
National Parole Board Pardon Statistics
PardonsGrantedAndDenied – FY2011-2012 to MY2018-2019.xlsx
For week eight
ServiceRequestsFeb2019.xlsx
To obtain a zipped folder containing the City of Ottawa’s collision data,
please click here.