What reporting isn’t “computer-assisted” these days?
Amy Gahran at the Poynter Institute says “computer-assisted reporting” (CAR) is an anachronistic term:
… No one makes a big deal about “telephone-assisted reporting.” Is the term “computer-assisted reporting” (CAR) getting to that point? …
CAR used to be all the rage. But nowadays, I doubt there’s much reporting that isn’t “computer assisted” in one way or another — from Google and DexOnline to campaign finance databases. More specific terms, like “data mining,” appear to be in ascendance from what I hear. What are you hearing?
I agree. This is even more true in those rare cases when reporters do statistical analysis. Tell me what statistical tests you used, not that you used a computer. That’s just obvious.
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