Databases

When you have a wealth of information on your hands -- more than could ever fit in one article or broadcast segment -- putting it into a searchable database allows your visitors to find what they're looking for and draw their own conclusions.

Stimulus: How Fast We’re Spending $792 Billion

http://projects.propublica.org/tables/stimulus-spending-progress

“The success of the federal stimulus program may hinge on the speed with which the government is able to distribute the billions authorized by Congress. Unlike some other estimates of the cost of the stimulus, which are based on spending projections, we took our numbers from the actual budget authority issued by Congress—$792 billion and change.”

How Much Stimulus Funding is Going to Your County?

http://projects.propublica.org/recovery/

“Want to know what’s going on with the stimulus in your area? ProPublica has compiled nearly all the contracts, grants and loans that the government has reported awarding so far in the stimulus program. Type in your county or click on your state to find projects in your area.”

Oregon Historical Society Timeweb

http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/timeweb/

An interactive application that allows users to create their own timeline based on historical documents in a database.

Post 200

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/business/post200-2009/post-200-graphic.html

The Washington Post

An annual report of the Washington area’s top 200 companies, featuring a filterable database and visualizations.

Fold-Ins, Past and Present

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/03/28/arts/20080330_FOLD_IN_FEATURE.html?scp=1&sq=interactive&st=cse

Al Jaffee’s fold-ins for Mad magazine, from the 1960s to the present, in interactive form.

FinancialAidLetter.com - Letter Decoder

http://www.financialaidletter.com/

A former U.S News reporter developed this site as a Kiplinger fellow; it’s dedicated to helping students and parents decode and understand the jargon and consequences of applying for and receiving college financial aid. Using database analysis and user interaction, the site demonstrates the journalist’s best use of technology.

KQED (San Francisco) -You Decide

http://www.kqed.org/topics/news/perspectives/youdecide/

KQED’s “You Decide” invites users to become part of a debate through a critical exploration of social issues. How do you feel about Medicare? Same-sex marriage? Prayer in schools? “You Decide” asks the question then offers counter arguments to your response. See article.

The Chicago Tribune - From Here to Excellence

http://www.chicagotribune.com/edfund

The Chicago Tribune takes an in-depth look at the Illinois public education system in this multi-part series that grew into a multimedia, participatory online presentation. The Tribune attacks the issue of how to revamp the system to help Illinois students compete in a global economy. With focus on specific targets, the series used extensive database research and interactive opportunities for the public to become involved in the debate.

The Ottawa Citizen - Tracks to Freedom

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/features/freedom/index.html

The Ottawa Citizen had reporter Chris Lackner retrace a path on the Underground Railroad on an adventure that took 93 days. A photographer recorded the journey and Lackner reported in a blog. The Web site also has an interactive journey that lets the user make decisions and experience the trip of escaping from the south to Canada.

The News & Observer: 2005 U.S. Open (may require free registration)

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/golf/usopen/multimedia/?course

Raleigh’s News & Observer focused on interactivity in its coverage of the 2005 U.S. Open. Computer-animated aerial images of every hole, 360-degree photographic views and video commentary from Pinehurst Resort’s director of golf all give newsobserver.com visitors a feel for the course. Also included are articles, statistics and interactive pieces about previous years of the U.S. Open.

USAToday.com - NFL Fantasy Football Rankings

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/graphics/fantasy_football_06/flash.htm

USA Today’s Matt Pitzer ranks his top 200 fantasy picks. The user can examine them and create a unique team. USA Today then encourages the user to keep track of the picks on draft day to see how they match up.

DR (Denmark) - Virtual Replay (World Cup 2006)

http://bgi.dr.dk/sporten/index.php

While this site is in Danish, it is easy to understand. Every goal of the 2006 World Cup has been created in an animated format that allows the user to change the video speed and viewing angle. The user can even play the role of the soccer ball.

TheState.com - New Life for Five Points

http://www.thestateonline.com/news/flash/5pt/newdesign.html

The State newspaper and TheState.com created this multimedia piece to show improvements in the works in Columbia, S.C. Detailed descriptions and graphics show changes being made to the streetscape and underground, while animated graphics detail the construction process, such as how to replace old, fragile pipes using a technique called “pipe bursting.”

washingtonpost.com - Block by Block, the Changing Face of Southeast

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/daily/graphics/stadium_081505/

To show the increasing property value and the number of real estate projects that have resulted from the proposed baseball stadium in Southeast Washington, D.C., washingtonpost.com created this informative graphic with a map overlaid on a satellite image of the area. Scrolling over the buildings and lots on the map brings up a box that tells what is in that location now, what is planned there in the future, who owns the real estate and how much it is worth.

WestportNow - Westport Teardowns Interactive Map

http://www.westportnow.com/index.php?/v2/teardowns/

WestportNow created this clickable, movable map to chronicle the number of houses being bought, torn down and replaced with “McMansions” in this Connecticut town. Dragging the cursor over a green dot displays the address, a photo of the lot, a status update and its purchase price. Clicking a dot gives a larger photo and more details about the lot.

The Chicago Tribune - King Tut

http://a630.g.akamai.net/f/630/22240/5m/tribune.download.akamai.com/22025/anon.chicagotribune/tut_king/tut_main.swf

The Chicago Tribune created an interactive map of one of the floors in The Field Museum for the 2006 temporary exhibit, Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. The map gives the users brief descriptions and images of the artifacts relating to King Tut and Egypt.

Austin American-Satesman's "Budget Game" (Registration Required)

http://www.statesman.com/insight/content/norails/budget_game

The 78th Texas Legislature is looking at a $9.9 billion gap between the state’s expected revenue and what Texas must spend to maintain existing programs. Readers get a chance to play lawmaker and fill that gap through a mix of spending cuts and new taxes. The budget exercise builds in a political cost for each choice. Being in favor of a tax on food, for instance, would increase a public relations liability that could affect a politicians reelection. The trick is to fill the gap but keep your job.

TBO.com Crime Tracker

http://crimetracker.tbo.com/

The Tampa Tribune, Tampa’s News Channel 8 (WFLA-TV) and Tampa bay Online have compiled crime data from the past four years into an easy-to-use map. Crimes such as arson, burglary, and drug offenses are dotted on a map that users can zoom and pan around. Detailed information for each crime is also available with the click of a mouse. TBO.com is constantly updating its crime tracker with new counties and data for past years.

Washingtonpost.com's Faces of the Fallen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/iraq/casualties/facesofthefallen.htm

“Faces of the Fallen” allows users to locate American soldiers who died in Iraq. Users can search by death date, military branch, or photograph. A summary about each soldier includes their name, age, rank, home town, as well as where they died and the events surrounding their death.

The Spokesman-Review's Conflict in Iraq

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/iraq/database/casualties_search.asp

“Conflict in Iraq” pays tribute to American soldiers stationed in Iraq. Photographs, stories and biographical profiles highlight soldiers, as well as everyday life in Iraq. A casualty database is searchable by name, date of death, service branch, and location of the incident. A news blog updates Iraqi developments.

360Degrees.org

http://www.360degrees.org/

Interactive production company Picture Projects created this site to “challenge your perceptions about who is in prison today and why.” The site tells criminal justice stories from a variety of perspectives—the victim, the convict, the lawyer, etc.—using panoramic photos, voice clips, and links to related information. Other features like a criminal justice theory quiz, message boards, and a comprehensive criminal justice timeline complete the package.

JournalNow.com - Murder, Race and Justice: The State vs. Darryl Hunt

http://darrylhunt.journalnow.com/

The Winston-Salem Journal used multiple interactions in this 8-part series on a highly contested case that “helped define Winston-Salem’s race relations.” The series tells the story of Darryl Hunt, a black man who was charged at 19 with the rape and murder of 25-year-old Deborah Sykes, an employee at The Sentinel. The Journal brings the story to life through the use of 360-degree photography, clickable maps, videos, quizzes, interactive graphics, timelines, video clips and more.

Forging America: An Interactive Narrative of Bethlehem Steel

http://www.j-lab.org/forgingamerica.shtml

When Bethlehem Steel was dissolved and its stock canceled one minute before the dawning of 2004, The Morning Call was faced with a unique challenge. It decided to go interactive to cover the end of an era with a multimedia CD-ROM including hundreds of photos, company films, and new video.

KQED and PBS - Presumed Guilty: Tales of the Public Defender

http://www.pbs.org/kqed/presumedguilty/2.1.0_flash.html

This crime investigation series from PBS and KQED’s “Presumed Guilty: Tales of the Public Defender” tells stories “culled from the defendants’ own words, information given to the public defender, and court records of the case(s).” Click through the timelines to read summaries of events, see pictures, and draw your own conclusions about the guilt of various defendants. Discussion boards, feedback, and links to the rights of the accused can be found on this site.

LJWorld.com - The Murray Trial

http://www.ljworld.com/specials/murray_trial/

Readers become jurors in LJWorld.com’s site on a Kansas State professor’s trial for the murder of his wife. A complete archive of articles and photos trace the case from the pre-trial hearing to the defendant’s conviction. Courtroom video lets readers watch the prosecution and defense make their cases. Readers can also weigh the evidence themselves with crime scene diagrams, court documents and the defendant’s video statement to police.

LJWorld.com - In Cold Blood: A Legacy

http://www.ljworld.com/specials/incoldblood/

For the 45th anniversary of Truman Capote’s “nonfiction novel” about murders in rural Holcomb, Kansas, student reporters from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln examined the murder case, the book and their long-term effects on the people involved. LJWorld.com supplements the students’ articles and interviews with a timeline, photos, a five-part video documentary, maps and an archive of the Lawrence Journal-World’s coverage of the murders.

The New York Times - How Class Works

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/20050515_CLASS_GRAPHIC/index_03.html

As part of its Class Matters series, The New York Times created an interactive graphic detailing socioeconomic class in America. Included is a demonstration of how class is related to occupational prestige, education level, yearly income and wealth. A 3-D graph shows where the population stands economically based on occupation and education level. An interactive table depicts the economic movement of families from 1988 to 1998. Also included are the results of a nationwide poll on how Americans view class.

Investigating the Gap - Long Island Rail Road

http://www.newsday.com/gap

Newsday.com investigated and produced this multimedia package unveiling the dangers of the Long Island Rail Road gap. View a timeline of accident reports from different stations and hear stories from the victims. Take a look at how the gaps are created and check the gap size at your station.

ChicagoCrime.org

http://www.chicagocrime.org/

ChicagoCrime.org offers a browsable database of 90-days of crime incidents and locations in the Chicago area. It was created by Adrian Holovaty, editor, editorial innovations, washingtonpost.com. He used Google Maps and data from the Chicago Police Department’s Citizen ICAM. Users can also find which day had the most and fewest crimes, which crimes are most reported and which locations experience the most crime. Also offered are RSS feeds specified for each police beat and city block.

PBS.org - ByThePeople 2004

http://www.pbs.org/elections/

PBS’ coverage of the 2004 election included essays and commentary about the election, a guide to interpreting debates, polls and political ads, and an interactive ballot. Visitors could type in their ZIP code and see a complete list of candidates on their local ballot, with links to each candidate’s vital statistics, campaign finances, voting record and more.

WashingtonPost.com - Spheres of Influence

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/pioneers/pioneers_spheres.html

Who helped the President get elected, and how have they benefited from that support? The Post used Flash to tie together a database of George W. Bush’s biggest 2000 campaign donors with a graphical map of how those donors connect to Bush and one another. Clicking on any person or group on the map brings up their background information, including the amount they donated and what political appointments they received after Bush took office.

The Pew Research Center for The People & The Press - Beyond Red vs. Blue

http://typology.people-press.org/

There is more than just right and left on the political spectrum. Find out where you fit among social conservatives, liberals, conservative democrats, upbeats, disaffecteds and more. The Pew Research Center put together this set of 25 questions about where you stand on key political issues to tell you which of nine political typology groups you fit into. See the descriptions and demographics for your typology and others, on what issues they differ most from the general population and how each voted in the 2004 election.

WashingtonPost.com - Congressional Votes Database

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/

Want to know how your senator or congressman is voting on issues? Interested in seeing who skips the most votes? WashingtonPost.com created this database that allows users to browse every vote in the United States Congress since 1991. Users can get a specific congress member’s vote history or see what a previous year’s congress voted on. The database is updated daily and offers RSS feeds on recent votes or by congress member.

MSNBC - Rate the Candidates - The Debates

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18421356/

MSNBC’s Rate The Candidates allows you to watch video clips of each presidential candidate from debates. After watching the video, you rate each candidate and submit your ratings to see how the candidates stack up against each other in the eye of the public. Cast your vote for both parties.

WashingtonPost.com - 2008 Campaign Tracker

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/tracker

A database driven tracker provides the user up to date information about each of the presidential candidates’ travels, fundraising, comparisons with other candidates and other campaign-related information. It is intended for use not just by readers, but also by other journalists and organizations. The tracker has been covering events since January 2007.

Personal Democracy Forum- techPresident

http://www.techpresident.com/

A non-partisan group blog that examines how the 2008 presidential candidates are using the web. Site includes original reporting on topics including video-blogging, social networking, and tracks candidates’ online videos and number of “friends” on such sites at Facebook and MySpace.

WWF - Climate Witness

http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/climate_change/problems/people_at_risk/personal_stories/index.cfm

The World Wildlife Fund for Nature created this interactive map and participatory site where “climate witnesses” are invited to share their stories of their experiences with global warming. A picture of each contributer is placed on a clickable world map, from which users can navigate to the witness stories.

Personal Democracy Forum- techPresident

http://www.techpresident.com/

A non-partisan group blog that examines how the 2008 presidential candidates are using the web. Site includes original reporting on topics including video-blogging, social networking, and tracks candidates’ online videos and number of “friends” on such sites at Facebook and MySpace.

techPresident - 10 Questions

http://www.10questions.com/

From the producers of 2007 Knight-Batten Grand Prize winner techPresident.com comes 10 Questions, adding an interactive element to the 2008 presidential debates. Regular citizens submitted questions via YouTube and users voted on the questions and the top 10 were asked to each party at separate debates.

News21 - One Vote Under God

http://newsinitiative.org/medill/candidates/

Carnegie-Knight Foundation Fellows at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism created this interactive feature to show the impact of religion on the candidates in the 2008 presidential primary elections. Each candidate’s religious background is examined, as well as their stances on “values” issues such as gay marriage, abortion and stem cell research.

ChicagoCrime.org

http://www.chicagocrime.org/

ChicagoCrime.org offers a browsable database of 90-days of crime incidents and locations in the Chicago area. It was created by Adrian Holovaty, editor, editorial innovations, washingtonpost.com. He used Google Maps and data from the Chicago Police Department’s Citizen ICAM. Users can also find which day had the most and fewest crimes, which crimes are most reported and which locations experience the most crime. Also offered are RSS feeds specified for each police beat and city block.

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