“Our limited brains are incapable of grasping reality in all its glorious complexity.” What you design is never exactly what your audience ends up interpreting so reducing the chances for misinterpretation becomes crucial.
Cleveland McGill Scale
Cleveland McGill Scale for Data Visualization
Important Resources for Surveying the Data Visualization Options
For the weekly memo: Select two examples from the Dataviz Catalog and FT Visual Vocabulary that you find interesting or useful. Include a screenshot of the chart in your memo and describe how it could apply for our project.
Graphics Comments from Jon Schleuss, Los Angeles Times
And the colors. What does “red” mean when it’s used? And what about using too many colors. At the Times we really only have two or three colors: basic default, a highlight color and a negative color. We break from convention, but keeping it simple helps. I figure now I’ll show them how I approach chart building from start to finish.
Also, I see a desire to combine different data into the same chart. So there’s a left, bottom and right axis. But that’s a bit confusing to the reader, especially when things have the same values (percentages vs. percentages instead of percentages vs. hard counts).
I think my big takeaways are that most of these charts should be flipped on their sides. That’s because when we sort data largest to smallest (nearly everyone did) we then think of it as time passing if it’s a column chart (bars situated left to right). And that there’s a downward marching trend. Best to flip a lot of these on their side.
Build choropleth maps
A Comment on Color Choices
A reader made an excellent point that the red shading of the active cases map was misleading since ‘red zone’ is a specific concept in the White House task force reports. Our shading does not match the red zone definition of the task force report and most readers would expect that it would. I swapped out the shading for blue-green until we figure out the calculations for active cases per capita on that White House task force scale. It just goes to show you how color choices on graphics are major communication issues.
Reader Comment: @BruceWard2 Have you considered using a standard for which counties are red? The map gives a false impression that Arkansas counties are not “red zones” for CoVID when they are. Replying to @BruceWard2 and @KatySeiter
Build a Cover Image Using Canva or InDesign or Powerpoint
–Import the countyonlytoday.csv data as text into Tableau –Check the geographic role of county is assigned to county. –Go to Sheet 1: a) drag Longitude to columns b) Latitude to rows c) County Name to the pane –A map of Arkansas appears. d) In top Menu: MAP | Edit Locations | State / Province | Fixed – Select the great state of Arkansas –The map now has all counties represented as dots e) In Marks card: Change Automatic to Map f) drag Positive to the pane – you now have a map of positive rates by county. Video below with all of these steps:
New sheet, begin map: Drag counties to map Fix the missing counties: Map | Edit Locations | Fixed | Arkansas Marks Card | Map Drag Deaths map
Here’s where it is tricky:
Click on Longitude pill in Columns. Press Command key. Drag to Right. Release mouse –Creates two Longitude pills and two maps –Marks Card Now Has Controls for Two Maps
Marks Card Has Two Maps. Lower Map, Drag off color pill. Marks Card, switch to Circle. Drag Deaths to Size. Enlarge the Circles Drag Deaths to Labels.
In Columns, Select Down Arrow on Longitude | Dual Axis –Maps are combined
Review four corners: 1. Make a copy 2. Freeze Panes 3. Four corners test 4. Check the math Excel and the Black cross copy function 5. Sorting 6. Percentage Change: (New Number-Old Number)/Old Number *100
The following test will determine your best fit in the class - Track 1, the basic data or Track 2, more advanced data. I think some people will migrate from Track 1 to Track 2 over the course of the semester. Others may stay in Track 1. That's fine. I just want to have a decent fit for everyone.
The task involves following the instructions below to download data, make calculations in Excel and build a Tableau chart with per capita calculations.
Download data: master_file_jan7.csv
--This is the Arkansascovid.com data file as of Jan 7, 2021
--"positive" represents total positive cases
--Arkansas_all_counties in "county_nam" represents the statewide totals
--pop_5yr_est_2018 represents the 2018 population
Load the data in a Google Sheet.
--Create a new column with the positive per capita calculation
Stumped? Consult Excel Refresher here.
Create a Google Doc and answer the following questions:
1) What day did the state reach 7% of the population or 0.07 cases per capita? (Question clarified Jan 11)
2) Which county had the highest per capita rate in Jan 1, 2021?
3) Supply the rates for Washington County and its contiguous counties on Jan 1. 2021.
4) Create a separate tab in the spreadsheet, listing just the following: top 10 counties per capita as of Nov. 26, with the date, county, positive, pop_5yr_est_2018, and your per capita calculation, sorted highest to lowest
5) Find the per capita statewide rate for Jan 7, 2021. List the counties were above the statewide rate.
6) Upload your spreadsheet as a Google Sheet with these calculations and the second tab with the top 10 counties per capita.
Use Flourish, Tableau Public or Desktop to create bar chart: (updated 9/7 with Flourish option)
--Counties above the statewide per capita rate on Jan 7, 2021.
--Have a news headline and proper sourcing.
--Do a screenshot or export an image file of your chart.
Tableau
--Consult this tutorial to build a Tableau chart.
--Embed the Tableau image in your Google Doc.
Post all of your answers and links to a single Google Doc. Post a link to that Google Doc (make sure I can edit it!) on Blackboard by 11:59 pm Tuesday
If you can't figure out something, do as much as you can and explain what you can't figure out. Do not spend more than two hours on this exercise.
Treasurer’s Office tuition and fee estimator https://treasurernet.uark.edu/estimator.aspx
Graduate Faculty
Bostwick, David A Bouchillon, Brandon C Brown, Lucy M Chung, Jee-Young Foley, Larry Gould, Kara Jolliff Jordan, Gerald B McCaffrey, Raymond M Reed, Niketa S Schulte, Bret J Starling-Ledbetter, Robyn M Stockdell, Rick P Thein, Ricky (Richard) Thurston, Colleen Wells, Rob Wicks, Jan L
Unexpected Problems
Schedule conflict?
Students Planning to Defend
Students Planning To Defend Their Thesis This Spring:
Michael Adkison
Mary Ellis
Britt Graves
Whitney King
Obed Lamy
Beth Lewis
Matthew Moore
Shane White
Paulina Sobczyk
Anyone else?
Apply for graduation by March 1, 2021. Tell Dr. Wells. Thesis dissertation deadline is Dead Day, April 30, 2021. Walk back two weeks and the practical deadline is April 16, 2021. Walk back two weeks and your committee will want to see the final thesis document by April 2, 2021. “Have it finished by Easter.” All requirements for the degree must be completed by May 7, 2021, including any work required for an incomplete. Read Guide to Theses and Dissertations prior to starting the pre-check process. Theses and dissertations should be seen at least once prior to the defense.
–Apply only if you are on track for finishing your thesis this semester. Anyone else? —Notify Wells first
Statement of Intent: The School of Journalism and Strategic Media graduate students will participate in Spring commencement if they have successfully defended their thesis in the Spring semester. “If you want to walk in the Spring, you first have to defend in the Spring.” Students who are unable to defend in the Spring need to defer to the Summer or Fall for commencement .
Graduation: Apply by March 1, 2021
–Apply to graduate via your student center in UA Connect under “My Academics.” The graduation fee will be added to your student account. After the deadline, there is a late application fee for ALL students. –Consult your Degree Audit to confirm that you have completed all degree requirements. Remind your advisor/committee chair that a Record of Progress must be submitted to the Graduate School and your Degree Audit must be completed by the department. –Commencement Sat, May 8. “Postponed until further notice.”
Master’s Thesis Process
Selection of thesis title and formation of thesis committee and submission of new Master’s Committee form.
Your thesis adviser performs the internship evaluation, not the Graduate Coordinator.
If you need help, contact Intern Coordinator Gina Shelton: ginas@uark.edu
Graduate Assistants
Work duties: Not to exceed 20 hours a week – supervisor not to “average out” work.*
*”However, there are some changes that are requiring that we relax this rule slightly. If a student is absent from work, you may ask the student to make up the work in subsequent weeks, as long as the total hours per week do not exceed 30 and as long as the student is not international.”
Stipend is $12,500 for two semesters. Mid-August, Mid-May: Get a half paycheck. Taxed on Medicare, SSI. Tuition waiver doesn’t cover misc fees. Technology fees. Media fees. Student health fees. Option of payroll deduction for misc fees
Other GAs Outside of Journalism Student affairs. GA openings. Newswire openings.
Blackboard Training Available Carolyn Smith, Faculty and Student Support GIBX100 (479)575-5632 (office) ccsmith@uark.edu
5 Year BA-MA
We have a good batch of 5 year BA-MA students for the Spring. We’ve had a very productive dynamic with the gGraduate students working and chatting with the 5 Year students. Please reach out to these folks if they are in your classes and help them out. Raegan Holland Mary Hennigan Abigail Zimmardi Alexis Campbell Heather Hodge
Career Advising
Office of Graduate Assistant Student Support: Career advising, free coffee Fridays. Laura Moix, Assistant Director, Gearhart Hall 273, lmoix@uark.edu, 479-575-7038
Funding:
Nonresident Tuition Scholarship
Chancellor’s Graduate Student NonResident Tuition Scholarship for new, degree seeking domestic graduate students entering the University of Arkansas Graduate School in the Fall 2020 or after. (Note: this scholarship is not available to international students). The university will provide financial support for students utilizing specific scholarship criteria. This student financial support is made possible with university resources. For more information, see: https://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/graduate/costs-and-funding/grad-new-resident.php
GPSC Research Grants The Graduate and Professional Student Congress (GPSC) will award three research grants for up to $1,500 for research projects in the fall and spring semesters. This funding mechanism is designed with a focus on supporting dissertation and thesis projects. The call for proposals will come out the first week of the spring semester, and graduate students will have one month to write a proposal in line with the National Institute of Health’s guidelines for writing grant proposals. See more in newswire.
Harry and Jo Leggett Chancellor’s Fellowship We are accepting applications for this fellowship, established to support graduate students who are involved in research of significant interest to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Leggett fellows receive a $12,000 stipend per year for a maximum of 4 years for a doctoral student and 2 years for a master’s student. It may also cover tuition for students without another source of funding for tuition. For more information and application guidelines: https://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/graduate/costs-and-funding/harry-jo-leggett-fellowship.php
Travel Grants No travel money awarded during the pandemic. Travel grant applications for remote conferences will be accepted and reviewed. We will likely approve these applications, but be aware that we don’t yet have a reimbursement process in place. If students pay with these charges from personal funds, we cannot guarantee they will be reimbursed.. Vicky Hartwell (hartwell@uark.edu, 5-4327) with questions.
Additional Grants through the Graduate and Professional Student Congress (subject to availability of funds): The Graduate and Professional Student Congress (GPSC) is excited to offer funding for students traveling to present their own original work. The GPSC Travel Grant is funding “of last resort,” meant to help students who have already exhausted other funding sources open to them. Currently, no travel grant shall exceed $500 dollars. Please log onto HogSync at https://orgsync.com/176733/forms/337734 for more information, application and deadlines.
A.L. Chilton Foundation Award Students may apply for up to $500 to assist them in purchasing supplies or other resources to aid them in their research efforts. Applications are reviewed once a month. Awards will be posted to the student’s account in UAConnect. https://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/graduate/costs-and-funding/chilton-foundation-award.php
GSPC Additional Grants through the Graduate and Professional Student Congress (subject to availability of funds): The Graduate and Professional Student Congress (GPSC) is excited to offer funding for students traveling to present their own original work. The GPSC Travel Grant is funding “of last resort,” meant to help students who have already exhausted other funding sources open to them. Currently, no travel grant shall exceed $500 dollars. Please log onto HogSync at https://orgsync.com/176733/forms/337734 for more information, application and deadlines.
Pivot To search for graduate student travel awards in particular, you may find it helpful to: Click on the “Advanced Search” link. Leave “All Fields” selected and enter “travel” into the search box. Click on “Applicant Type” and select “Graduate Student.” Click the blue “Search” button in the upper right corner of the page. Additional information and tips about using Pivot can be found online. https://pivot.proquest.com/
NSF GRFP Contact Vicky Hartwell in the grad school first. Interested students should begin at the applicant information page http://www.nsfgrfp.org . The GRFP supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. The program provides up to three years of graduate education support, including an annual $34,000 stipend. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201
Food Pantry Reminders In addition to the mini food pantry in the graduate student lounge, the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry operates all summer long! Anyone with a UofA ID is always able to request a 3-day supply of food for themselves and any immediate family members living with them. Just use the online request or stop by the pantry on the East side of Bud Walton Hall across from the base of the Union parking garage.
Emergency Funds
For emergencies, students can apply to the Needy Family Graduate Student Emergency Fund or the International Education Catastrophic Fund. Application materials can be found here: https://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/graduate/costs-and-funding/index.php
Misc: Talk program CAPS. Pat Walker. Monday 2 pm-4 pm
Mark Your Calendars
Lemke Journalism Project –School’s outreach to primarily Hispanic high school students –20th year –Timing TBA due to COVID-19 pandemic –Gina Shelton ginas@uark.edu
Arkansas Soul –School’s outreach project to African-American students –Essays, articles, videos, podcasts on Black culture generally –Prof. Niketa Reed, founder; Antionette Grajeda, editor.
Arkansascovid.com –Daily multimedia website publishing the latest COVID-19 updates –Volunteer or submit class projects for consideration.
Distinguished Visiting Ethics Professor –Schedule TBA
Teams:
Screen Sharing:
Check system settings: System Preferences > Security & Privacy and allow Screen Recording by Microsoft Teams
Also, the latest version of the Mac OSX 11.1, Big Sur, can cause some issues with Teams.
Zoom Meeting
Rob Wells is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://uark.zoom.us/j/81760060028?pwd=MVRsWGNUcjEyNVJmREhTY2swSjFtUT09
Topic: Jour 405v/5003 Spring 2021 Class
Time: Jan 11, 2021 09:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Mon, Wed, until Apr 28, 2021, 32 occurrence(s)
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://uark.zoom.us/meeting/tZUqcemoqDsqGNy9BsfqtbdEz81Qxg1PqYdu/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGpqT0qGtKVsBuPRpwcB4_oc_TwpmJfjY1ExT32BTFHYAfTLLoTA6p4QejB
Join Zoom Meeting
https://uark.zoom.us/j/81760060028?pwd=MVRsWGNUcjEyNVJmREhTY2swSjFtUT09
Meeting ID: 817 6006 0028
Passcode: C6N*Uhq?
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,81760060028#,,,,*47463978# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,81760060028#,,,,*47463978# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 817 6006 0028
Passcode: 47463978
Find your local number: https://uark.zoom.us/u/kcbVNf8FH
Join by SIP
81760060028@zoomcrc.com
Join by H.323
162.255.37.11 (US West)
162.255.36.11 (US East)
Meeting ID: 817 6006 0028
Passcode: 47463978
