Tag Archives: data

Free beer and pizza at Ruby in the Pub 4!

Posted on by
3

Pizza!

(Image by koadmunkee)

What: Ruby in the Pub
When: Tuesday, June 22nd, 7pm
Where: LBi, 146 Brick Lane (streetview – turn right for the entrance)
Why: More hacks learning to hack, but with free food and drink!

*FREE*
Please register for the event by emailing joanna.geary[at]thetimes.co.uk

Well, I said this month’s Ruby in the Pub (#ritp or #rubyinthepub) was going to be a bit different!

It’s still following the same format – volunteer programmers spend time with journos over a beer and – if not teach them a little code – at least help demonstrate the amazing things that are possible if you combine the power of programming with an eye for a story.

However, this time the lovely folk at LBi (especially the very lovely Paul Carvill)  have offered to host the fourth Ruby in the Pub, which takes place on June 22 from 7pm.

They are also offering us free drinks and pizza for up to 30 people.

If you want to come along, please email me so we can put your name on the door.

Remember: Just turn up with your laptop and, if you have one, an extension lead. Also, downloading Hackety Hack before you arrive is advised.

Also, developers: if you want to run a specific session at this event (scraping, spreadsheets, Twitter API, etc.), feel free to let us know in the comments below. Journalists – if there is anything specific you want to learn, please do the same!

QIT #5: The two most valuable assets for sustainable online journalism?

Posted on by
1

This really is not thought out as well as I’d like, but it seems important so here goes:

In search of the sustainable business model for online journalism it seems to me that there are two areas that are key:

1. Well-organised data

News is information, information is data. The better the structures you have in place to organise and classify that data, the more likely you will be able to sell what you have as a unique service. You also have a better ability to repurpose, reinvent and diversify what you do for the changing needs of clients/customers.

2. A loyal network

In journalism you are nothing if you don’t have a community backing you. Newspapers need readers, sites need users. Online is no different, you may have the scale, but you also need some form of loyalty and personal buy in to what you do. These are the people who are of interest to sponsors/advertisers and they also might save you if times get tough.