Summary

Stephen K. Doig teaches and develops computer assisted-reporting, using digital applications to increase the fact-finding power of journalism.

Biography

Professor Doig was a veteran editor and investigative reporter at The Miami Herald.

Grant Background

The proposal is for an endowed faculty position to be filled by a nationally prominent professional who would coordinate an expanded program of computer-assisted journalism. Working with other faculty members, the chair-holder would coordinate a program of teaching, research and service that would include professional outreach presentations focusing on electronic information gathering and reporting strategies. The chair holder would teach courses in computer-assisted journalism, conduct research, develop new courses that reflect the emerging electronic retrieval technology, lead workshops for professors at other universities, and conduct seminars for working journalists.

Recent Activities

Professor Doig shared the 2012 George Polk Award for Medical Reporting for the data analysis work he did for CaliforniaWatch of suspected Medicare fraud by a large hospital chain. A story about the project can be seen here: http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/precision-journalism-reveals-patterns-government-data-14117.

Professor Doig served as data consultant for the 2012 News21 “Who Can Vote?” project on voter rights, helping students gather the most comprehensive database of voter fraud cases ever created. The project can be viewed here: http://votingrights.news21.com/

Professor Doig led data training sessions at conferences and workshops in Kiev, Lisbon, Italy, Sydney, Melbourne, Phoenix, Boston, St. Louis and St. Petersburg.

Question-and-Answer with Knight Chair

Teaching the profession:
What do you do to bring the newsroom into your classroom? How do your students learn about current journalism practices?

I bring the newsroom into my classroom through my ongoing involvement in professional activity. Examples of that would be my data consulting work with CaliforniaWatch and News21, or my active role in the Investigative Reporters & Editors organization. The experiences I have doing these projects and what I learn from working with journalists in the U.S. and abroad inform my classroom teaching and keep it fresh.

Media Innovation:
Do you think journalism programs should keep up with the quickening pace of change in the industry? How can they? What is your approach?

I believe journalism programs should be leading the way when it comes to the pace of change in the industry. The "teaching hospital" model of journalism education practiced at the Cronkite School gives the faculty good reason to stay current with what is being done in the profession. Even better, we have the research freedom to experiment with new tools and methods and report back to the profession about what works and what doesn't.