Google maps tutorial (part 3/5): How Fusion Tables map works

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Mu Lin

Usually there are two scenarios when creating a Google Fusion Tables map: 1. you have a file (e.g., a spreadsheet) that has both raw data and geographic data. 2. you have a file that only has raw data, and the geographic data is in separate file. Continue reading →

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Google maps tutorial (part 2/5): How to work with Fusion Tables

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Mu Lin

This tutorial introduces you to three aspects of using Fusion Tables: How to start a new table, how to navigate the table interface and how to use filter. Continue reading →

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Google maps tutorial (part 1/5): What Fusion Tables is and does

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Mu Lin

Google Fusion Tables (or simply Fusion Tables) is a free Web service provided by Google for data management. Data is stored in the form of tables that web users can view and download. Fusion Tables is a popular tool to store, visualize and share larger data tables. Continue reading →

Posted in Data journalism | 5 Comments

How to do SEO: A sample SEO strategy by student in my web writing course

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Mu Lin

A participant in my open online course Writing for the Web did a good job developing an SEO strategy following guidelines in class lecture. I want to share with my blog readers this step-by-step SEO plan for a proposed online article. Continue reading →

Posted in Writing for the web | 5 Comments

Telling a story using audio slideshow: Student works in my open online course

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Mu Lin

About 190 people from 46 countries and regions took the recent Audio Slideshow Storytelling class, a free online course offered by this blog. Here’s a recap of what they learned and two sample stories they produced. Continue reading →

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A case study of writing for the web: How to rewrite for online readers

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Mu Lin

A participant in my open online course Writing for the Web did a good job rewriting an article following web-writing guidelines discussed in class. I want to share with my blog readers the analysis and rewrite by this participant. Continue reading →

Posted in Writing for the web | 4 Comments

Google maps tutorial (part 5/5): How to create a free heat map with Google Fusion Tables

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Mu Lin

Tutorial goals: understand the ideas behind Google Fusion Tables heat maps; create an interactive map showing state-by-state U.S. population, as shown in the sample below.

(This post is part five of a 5-part tutorial on creating Fusion Tables intensity map; the other parts are listed as related posts at end of this post)

Continue reading →

Posted in Data journalism, Digital tools and tips | 3 Comments

Advice for college media advisers: It’s time to go beyond reporting and writing

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Mu Lin

As student media adviser, you need to supervise a full-blown digital operation and help students learn all the best practices in content production and promotion. Continue reading →

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Journalism schools need to teach web metrics as it sees increasing use in newsrooms

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Mu Lin

A survey of 114 top-level news editors shows widespread use of web metrics in U.S. newsrooms and this means j-schools need to add metrics and analytics as part of the changing journalism curriculum. Continue reading →

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Suggestions and resources: Teaching web metrics and Google Analytics to communication students

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Mu Lin

Many communication instructors do not have prior expertise in web metrics, which is a new and increasingly important skill for today’s communication workers. Here’s some advice and resources that may help an instructor prepare, structure and teach courses in web metrics and Google Analytics. Continue reading →

Posted in Metrics & Analytics | 2 Comments