Sensor journalism refers to the use of

sensors A sensor is a device that produces an output signal for the purpose of sensing a physical phenomenon. In the broadest definition, a sensor is a device, module, machine, or subsystem that detects events or changes in its environment and sends ...

to generate or collect data, then analyzing, visualizing, or using the data to support journalistic inquiry. This is related to but distinct from

data journalism Data journalism or data-driven journalism (DDJ) is a journalistic process based on analyzing and filtering large data sets for the purpose of creating or elevating a news story. Data journalism is a type of journalism reflecting the increased ...

. Whereas

relies on using historical or existing data, sensor journalism involves the creation of data with sensor tools. This also includes drone journalism.

Background

Examples of sensor-based journalism (below) date back to the early 2000s and usually involve the use of sensor tools to generate or collect data to be reported on. The way in which the sensors are deployed varies. In some cases, a journalist will learn how to operate and deploy a sensor (see

Houston Chronicle The ''Houston Chronicle'' is the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Texas, United States. , it is the third-largest newspaper by Sunday circulation in the United States, behind only ''The New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times''. With i ...

) while in others (see WNYC Cicada Tracker), the sensors are built and deployed by the general public. Journalists can also request data from existing sensor networks (see

Sun Sentinel The ''Sun Sentinel'' (also known as the ''South Florida Sun Sentinel'', known until 2008 as the ''Sun-Sentinel'', and stylized on its masthead as ''SunSentinel'') is the main daily newspaper of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as well as surrounding B ...

example) and remote sensors (see

ProPublica ProPublica (), legally Pro Publica, Inc., is a nonprofit organization based in New York City. In 2010, it became the first online news source to win a Pulitzer Prize, for a piece written by one of its journalists''The Guardian'', April 13, 2010P ...

example). Sensors used for reporting can be closed source with expressly stated terms of use or open source, which allows for modification of the sensor downstream of development. Sensor journalism modules have been taught at Emerson College (around water quality/contamination) and

Florida International University Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university with its main campus in Miami-Dade County. Founded in 1965, the school opened its doors to students in 1972. FIU has grown to become the third-largest university in Florid ...

(around

sea-level rise Globally, sea levels are rising due to human-caused climate change. Between 1901 and 2018, the globally averaged sea level rose by , or 1–2 mm per year on average.IPCC, 2019Summary for Policymakers InIPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryo ...

). San Diego State University planned an air-quality sensor-journalism module for spring 2015.

Examples

* Houston Chronicle, In Harm’s Way :A study about toxic chemicals in the air in public parks. * USA Today, Ghost Factories :A series that looked at lead-contaminated soil in neighborhoods around previous U.S. lead factories. * Sun Sentinel, Above the Law :A series about the tendencies of cops to speed. * WNYC Cicada Tracker :A project that revolved around the emergence of

Magicicada The term periodical cicada is commonly used to refer to any of the seven species of the genus ''Magicicada'' of eastern North America, the 13- and 17-year cicadas. They are called periodical because nearly all individuals in a local population a ...

. * Washington Post, ShotSpotter :A project with 300 acoustic sensors across 20 square miles in D.C. * Planet Money, Planet Money Makes a T-shirt :A project that followed the production of a shirt from beginning to end. * ProPublica, Losing GroundProPublica, Losing Ground
/ref> :A study of sea-level rise in Louisiana.

* Citizen science *

Remote sensing Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object, in contrast to in situ or on-site observation. The term is applied especially to acquiring information about Eart ...

Crowdsensing Crowdsensing, sometimes referred to as mobile crowdsensing, is a technique where a large group of individuals having mobile devices capable of sensing and computing (such as smartphones, tablet computers, wearables) collectively share data and extra ...

* Crowdsourcing *

Crowdmapping Crowdmapping is a subtype of crowdsourcing by which aggregation of crowd-generated inputs such as captured communications and social media feeds are combined with geographic data to create a digital map that is as up-to-date as possible on event ...

Data journalism Data journalism or data-driven journalism (DDJ) is a journalistic process based on analyzing and filtering large data sets for the purpose of creating or elevating a news story. Data journalism is a type of journalism reflecting the increased ...

* Data visualization *

Citizen journalism Citizen journalism, also known as collaborative media, participatory journalism, democratic journalism, guerrilla journalism or street journalism, is based upon public citizens "playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, a ...

Environmental monitoring Environmental monitoring describes the processes and activities that need to take place to characterize and monitor the quality of the environment. Environmental monitoring is used in the preparation of environmental impact assessments, as well a ...

* Open software/hardware * Open source * Open science

Tools and platforms

OpenStreetMap

CartoDB

Xively

OpenSensors.com
* Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science
Manylabs

References

{{Reflist

External links

* Pitt, Fergus (editor). Tow Center report
''Sensors & Journalism,''
2014. * Fahn, James.
The Promise and Perils of Sensor-Based Journalism
" Earth Journalism Network, 2013. * Moradi, Javaun.
What Do Open Sensor Networks Mean for Journalism?
" 2011. * Bui, Lilian.
A (Working) Typology of Sensor Journalism Projects
" MIT Comparative Media Studies blog, 2014
"Sensor journalism student reflections from Emerson College"
* Kishor, Puneet
"A Taxonomy of Sensors,"
2014.
"What's In the Air?" project from San Diego State University

King Tide Day project from Florida International University

O'Donovan, Caroline. "The cicadas are coming: WNYC’s tracker is the latest sign of the rise of sensor news networks," Nieman Lab, 2013.

Waite, Matt. "How sensor journalism can help us create data, improve our storytelling," Poynter, 2013.

Nelson, Jennifer. "Sensor journalism: Finding meaning within the data," Reynolds Journalism Institute (2014).
21st-century introductions Types of journalism Sensors

Background

Examples

Related

Tools and platforms

References

External links