Automatic chart updates: How to publish charts with external data sources
https://academy.datawrapper.de/article/60-external-data-sources
Adam:
Datawrapper has good instructions on how to upload your own map here: https://academy.datawrapper.de/article/145-how-to-upload-your-own-map
The general process, or at least the workflow I use, is:
1. Compress your shapefile into a zip archive.
2. Go to mapshaper.org and import your zip archive.
3. Your map needs to use the WGS-84 projection or Datawrapper won't accept it. To put the map in that projection, hit the spacebar in mapshaper to enter the console, and enter proj wgs84
4. If you want to use labels for your map's polygons, you'll need to set interior points. In the console, enter each "cx=$.innerX, cy=$.innerY"
5. You can also simplify the precision of the polygons on your map (hello, Chesapeake Bay) to drive down the file size of the map you're about to export. Hit the simplify button at the upper right, check the box for prevent shape removal, hit apply, and drag the slider to the right. I usually simplify down to around 50% and the map looks pretty unaffected. Your results may vary.
6. Hit the export button and choose TopoJSON as the file format.
7. Back in Datawrapper, start a new map project, click the or Upload Map button, and upload your TopoJSON file.
From here, the process to finish your map is identical to creating any other Datawrapper map.
To go even further with a custom map, you can upload a TopoJSON that has a polygon layer for places like precincts and municipalities, and an outer boundary line layer for things like county or state boundaries. For instance, this election map has 240 municipalities in the much-discussed Philadelphia suburbs, as well as 60-plus wards for the city of Philadelphia. It also needed to have thicker lines to show county boundaries as a reference point for readers, or else all the polygons would be one large blob. Here's an example using another election map: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/philadelphia-presidential-votes-suburban-county-ward-map-20201109.html
You start by uploading a multi-layer TopoJSON. To do that, import a polygon shapefile and a line shapefile into mapshaper.org. Make sure you apply the correct projection and set the interior points for both layers. After you export as a TopoJSON and bring it into Datawrapper, hit the toggle switch for Additional options (advanced). "Regions" are your polygons and choose "Outer borders" to set the thick boundary lines.
Anyway, that's a new Datawrapper trick that I just picked up for our election maps.
John
Ch 1 & 2 of Machlis: Key PointsReproducible research Repetitive tasks in modern newsrooms. Employment reports, crime stats, budgets Variables - an R object Assignment operator <- Case sensitive Vector: A vector can only have one type of data - all integers, all strings Dataframe - like a spreadsheet Save files - Don’t save workspace: because all of your variables will be stored and re-loaded the next time you launch RStudio. It’s too easy to forget about previously stored variables that can interfere with later work,Software packages: tidyverse, rio, pacman
Data Types and RMachlis: 2.4.2 Data types you’re likely to use often
You can download the most recent version of R at https://www.r-project.org/, which is the home of R (formally known as the R Project for Statistical Computing). The R-project home page usually includes information about the latest versions of R. Don’t be put off by the sometimes odd nicknames for R versions, such as “Very, Very Secure Dishes” and “Bug in Your Hair” – the software is much more useful than you might assume from the nicknames. (The whimsical version names come from various Peanuts cartoons.)
There should also be a prominent link to download R. Click that download option and you should be taken to CRAN, the Comprehensive R Archive Network, and a list of CRAN servers, called mirrors, around the world. Pick a server and choose the precompiled binary distribution for your operating system. Once the file finishes downloading, install it like any other software program – run the .exe for Windows or .pkg for Mac.
You should be fine accepting all the Mac defaults. On Windows, you’ll need to decide whether you want the 32- or 64-bit R version. (Unless you’ve got a pretty old system, chances are you’ll want 64-bit.)
This is all you need to start running R, but I strongly recommend also installing RStudio, a free platform designed to make it easier and more enjoyable to create and run R code. Head to RStudio.com and under products, look for RStudio and then RStudio Desktop (not Server), and download the free Open Source Edition version for your operating system. This, too, installs like a typical software program
Writing style notes Don’t use this “respectively” construction. It confuses the readers and leads to data errors. Other private trade schools also made the top 10 list, such as Philander Smith in Little Rock and Bryan University in Rogers, with increases of 81 percent and 74 percent respectively.
.ITT Technical Institute, the University of phoenix, Philander Smith College and Bryan University are all classified as private schools and are the top four schools with graduated student loan debt in the state. Their debt has increased 106 percent, 102 percent, 81 percent and 74 percent respectively since 2012.
Common Errors – Math Percent vs Percentage Point At Lyon College, 67 percent of non-first-generation students paid back their loans within five years, while only 53 percent of first-generation students did the same, which results in a 14 percent POINT difference. The median debt for both types of students was the same though, at $12,000. You mean “percentage point.” 14 percent of 67 is 9.4. Steve Doig – MathCrib-Doig
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 G3T 09/30/22 Stockdell, Rick P Thein, Ricky (Richard) P G4T 10/31/21 Thurston, Colleen Wells, Rob Wicks, Jan L
Unexpected Problems
Schedule conflict with Theory – JOUR 5173 Social Media and Journalism. Jamari, Katy, Kendal, Grayson – anyone else?
Fall 2020 Deadlines
Thesis dissertation deadline is Dec. 11, 2020. Walk back a week and the practical deadline is Dec. 4, 2020. Walk back two weeks and your committee will want to see the final document by Nov. 20, 2020 “Have that Turkey finished before Turkey Day.” All requirements for the degree must be completed by December 18th, 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. Travis. Paulina. 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 Oct. 1, 2020
–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, Dec. 19.
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
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
Journalism Department Apply for departmental scholarships by Feb 15, 2021
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 –Feb 8. Meets for 6 Saturdays –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; Dr. Wells, web editor.
Distinguished Visiting Ethics Professor –Schedule TBA
