journalismwhere

Journalismwhere is a term used to describe an approach to journalism that foregrounds geographic context and the spatial dimensions of news. It treats place as a central element of reporting, using location data, maps, and field observation to tell stories about communities, infrastructure, and environments. The term, a blend of journalism and where, signals a focus on where events occur, how place influences outcomes, and how readers can locate information in physical space.

Origins and development: While not an established discipline, journalismwhere has emerged with the rise of data journalism, open data, and geographic information systems. News outlets adopt it through GIS-based dashboards, geotagged sources and documents, and interactive maps that allow audiences to explore issues by location. Journalists may combine on-the-ground reporting with spatial analysis to examine patterns such as pollution exposure by neighborhood, transit access, or disaster impact by area.

Methods and practices: Key methods include geotagging, creating and interpreting choropleth and point maps, using spatial queries, and collaborating with community groups to collect place-based information. It often involves cooperation with data scientists, cartographers, and visual journalists to translate complex spatial data into accessible narratives.

Criticism and challenges: Potential issues include privacy and consent for geolocated reporting, the risk of implying causal relationships from spatial correlation, resource demands for GIS skills, and the need to balance place-based storytelling with other contextual factors.

Related concepts: data journalism, geographic information systems, cartography, place-based journalism.