Local Data Journalism
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Empowering journalists with high-quality data and UChicago rigor.
Investigative journalism increasingly involves digging into large data sets with granular detail on topics such as housing and real estate, policing and crime, voting and elections, education, climate, and government finance.
Analyzing and presenting this information in an engaging, and impactful way takes significant time, computational power, and expertise — at a moment when many newsrooms are strapped for resources and staff.
How it works
Run by the Data Science Institute and the Mansueto Institute, the Local Data Journalism Initiative establishes partnerships between news organizations and university data science teams using the highest caliber data science and artificial intelligence tools and methodologies.
Distinctive approach
What sets this effort apart from existing university data journalism programs is that, rather than attempting to train reporters to be data scientists in a few weeks, we connect them with university faculty and students who will conduct data science projects and provide analyses and visualizations needed to complete their stories.
This empowers journalists to do what they do best: investigate leads; build relationships with sources; and tell powerful, impactful stories — knowing that the data and results they’re reporting have been rigorously analyzed and validated.
Program-at-a-glance
- Local journalists / news outlets are paired with UChicago data science team
- Data science team includes on-campus faculty, Mansueto research staff, and UChicago students, with results validated by the University
- Each team member will have skills relevant to their assigned project
- By the end of each project, journalists receive completed data analyses and engaging visualizations
How to Apply
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For journalists
If you are a journalist and have an investigative story in mind related to critical issues affecting cities, applications are accepted on a rolling basis with projects selected on a quarterly basis.
APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY OPEN:
Submit your full application below.
For students
This opportunity is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduate students in data science.
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Applications are currently closed and will re-open soon.
Recent Projects
The Local Data Journalism Initiative’s Summer 2025 cohort collaborated with the following journalists and media organizations on critical issues impacting cities, including real estate, transportation, and public finance:
- Crystal Paul, Illinois Answers Project
- Alex Nitkin, Illinois Answers Project
- Stephanie Zimmermann, Chicago Sun-Times
- Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune
- Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune
Faculty Leads
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Christopher R. Berry
William J. and Alicia Townsend Friedman Professor, Harris School of Public Policy and the College; Director, Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation
Learn More
Faculty Advisers
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Joshua Gottlieb
Professor, Harris School of Public Policy