Algorithms are powerful. They can decide who goes to jail, who gets offered employment opportunities, what videos are suitable for children to watch, and more. But, with such power, what happens when things go wrong?
In a new experiment the Times is using the reading habits of logged in subscribers to create newsletters built to match their interests.
Over the past few months the debate about the true value of interactive visualizations has been robust with many declaring them dead. And while there may have been a shift away from interactive graphics there are some things that interactives do better than any article.
Over 3000 Australian print and broadcast journalists have been made redundant in the past six years. A team of academics is investigating their fates and recording the effects of digital media on the profession.
When local newspapers shut their doors, communities lose out. People and their stories can’t find coverage. Politicos take liberties when it’s nobody’s job to hold them accountable.
US podcast ad revenue grew 86% to hit $314 million in 2017.
Newsrooms around the world are aiming for more interactivity and better user journey through data stories
Daily news can be grim, so the New York Times set up a positive reporting initiative to highlight more uplifting stories
Tips & Tools
End note:
The past few weeks have been pretty busy finishing off a number of projects, one of which we published yesterday. It's a visual data story about the state of South Africa's school toilets. And the numbers are pretty depressing if you consider that not only do some schools have no toilets but that more than 1 in every 3 schools in the country use pit latrines.
Got a complaint, a compliment or a suggestion? Let me know (my details are above). I'd love to hear from you. And please consider forwarding this newsletter to a friend or colleague who might enjoy reading it (just click the link below and we'll do the rest).

Until next week,
Alastair
@alastairotter
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