Sensor 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) 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 example) and remote sensors (see ProPublica 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 (around sea-level rise). San Diego State University planned an air-quality sensor-journalism module for spring 2015.