Post
1970
This is how AI can be useful in journalism: Just tested DataTalk - a tool that lets you dig through campaign finance data with just your words.
It's transforming complex FEC filings and OpenSecrets datasets into actionable insights for journalists.
Key features for newsrooms:
- Natural language queries on FEC data
- Rapid insights on donors, spending, special interests
- SQL access for deep dives
Tested it out:
- Retrieved how much Harris and Trump raised
- Found top donors instantly (#1 is Timothy Mellon—have you heard about him?)
- Uncovered big self-funders like David Trone ($62M)
Pros:
- Saves hours of data wrangling
- Surfaces story leads quickly
- Transparent AI retrieving steps makes this tool auditable
Awesome work by Stanford University Open Virtual Assistant Lab, Big Local News, and Columbia University - Graduate School of Journalism. Expert-guided.
Remember: Always verify. Use for leads, not final copy. But this is gold for finding new leads.
How might this change campaign finance reporting? What other datasets need this treatment?
Try it out: https://www.datatalk.genie.stanford.edu/
#AIJournalism #campaignfinance #datajournalism #election2024
It's transforming complex FEC filings and OpenSecrets datasets into actionable insights for journalists.
Key features for newsrooms:
- Natural language queries on FEC data
- Rapid insights on donors, spending, special interests
- SQL access for deep dives
Tested it out:
- Retrieved how much Harris and Trump raised
- Found top donors instantly (#1 is Timothy Mellon—have you heard about him?)
- Uncovered big self-funders like David Trone ($62M)
Pros:
- Saves hours of data wrangling
- Surfaces story leads quickly
- Transparent AI retrieving steps makes this tool auditable
Awesome work by Stanford University Open Virtual Assistant Lab, Big Local News, and Columbia University - Graduate School of Journalism. Expert-guided.
Remember: Always verify. Use for leads, not final copy. But this is gold for finding new leads.
How might this change campaign finance reporting? What other datasets need this treatment?
Try it out: https://www.datatalk.genie.stanford.edu/
#AIJournalism #campaignfinance #datajournalism #election2024