The COVID Tracking Project is (nearly) gone. Can we see clearly now?

One evening in early March of last year, Alexis C. Madrigal and Robinson Meyer, colleagues at The Atlantic, set out to answer a simple question: how many people had been tested for the coronavirus in the US so far? The answer, it turned out, was actually quite complicated: in the absence of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was hard to tell whether low reported case rates to that point reflected low incidence or low testing. Madrigal and Meyer sent a form email to health officials in every state; they soon found out that the answer was the latter, and that the federal government did not have a handle on the numbers. As Emily Sohn reported for CJR, Jeff Hammerbacher—a data scientist who had been working to track the same information, and who knew Madrigal from college—saw their work and reached out. They teamed up, and soon, the COVID Tracking Project was born. It was meant, initially, as a short-term gap-filler. “Every day,” Erin Kissane, its managing editor, told Sohn in late March, “we hope the CDC will put us out of business.” But the days went by, and the CDC did not, leaving the Tracking Project’s collective of journalists and tech folk to serve, in their own words, as “a de facto source of pandemic data for the United States.” The Atlantic agreed to host the project; its team grew to include hundreds of volunteers, and the project’s founders solicited philanthropic donations to pay some of them. “It just got really complex,” Madrigal told... Continue reading at 'Columbia Journalism Review'

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2021-03-17 12:29:53 UTC ]

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Roesler promoted to editorial director at S Fischer

German publisher S Fischer has promoted Alexander Roesler to editorial director of non-fiction, to replace Nina Sillem who left in September to establish her own literary agency. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kamala Harris draws crowds in L.A. amid buzz of a presidential run

For Nicki Mitchell of Pomona, there was one good reason to come hear U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California talk about her memoir Sunday afternoon at a theater in Los Angeles. “I’m seeing it as an opportunity to see the next president,” said Mitchell, a high school counselor. Harris hasn’t... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: October 15, 2018

’The Wonky Donkey,’ a backlist picture book–turned viral video sensation, is the #1 book in the country. Plus Tucker Carlson of Fox News lands at #2 with 'Ship of Fools,' and Rebecca Traister, at #11 in hardcover nonfiction, shows why women are ‘Good and Mad.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Medium adds Bloomberg and other publications to subscription service

In a push to monetize its publishing platform, Medium added a $5 Netflix-style subscription last March. The system includes a way for members to "clap" different posts to give creators a percentage of their membership fee as well. Now Medium is bring... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2017-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Upstart D.C. Agents Making Waves in New York

This summer, Javelin Literary Agency’s clients have included sought-after Beltway figures like James Comey and Tucker Carlson. So who's next? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pubnet, PubEasy Sold to German Company

Effective July 1, MVB Marketing, a subsidiary of Börsenverein, the German Publisher and Bookseller Association, will take over ownership of Pubnet and PubEasy. Ted Hill has been named general manager. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Prestel looks to treble UK sales for kids’ books, despite 'Brexit'

The UK division of a German publisher is pushing ahead with plans to expand its children’s book business, despite the economic uncertainty caused by the UK’s decision last week to leave the European Union. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What Axel Springer’s loss in ad-blocking suit means for UK publishers

Axel Springer and ad blocking company Eyeo have clashed in several court battles. Most recently, the German publisher was handed a slight victory; the ad block company cannot accept a fee from the publisher to be on its acceptable ads initiative. This is encouraging for U.K. publishers; however,... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kim Wilson to be next editor-in-chief of the Australian Women's Weekly

Head of kidspot.com.au and former editor of New Idea to replace Helen McCabe at helm of the country’s most popular magazineThe new editor-in-chief of the nation’s most popular magazine, the Australian Women’s Weekly, is Kim Wilson, a former editor-in-chief of New Idea.Wilson, whose appointment... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How brands and publishers are using Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger has 700 million monthly users, breaking out its humble beginnings as a messenger app. More brands will be experimenting with Messenger. For instance, Hyatt is using it for customer service. Disney has automated bots as forms of entertainment. Bild, the German publisher, is... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How News Outlet The Canary Aims to 'Diversify Media'

New media outlet The Canary is seeking to provide a counterpoint to mainstream journalism by creating a publishing platform for writers that pays its staff from the bottom up.   Kerry-anne Mendoza, editor-in-chief of The Canary, is cal ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bild owner to buy Business Insider

German publisher, Axel Springer, agrees to buy a controlling stake in the US news website Business Insider for $343m (£226m). Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Funding in Hand, Fansite Moviepilot to Chase More Consumers Bearing Data

Facebook-centric entertainment and data firm Moviepilot has attracted a second round of funding worth $16 million, much of which it will spend promoting itself to consumers through branded content."We focus on content marketing when it comes to brand-building," said co-founder Tobias Bauckhage.... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Motor Trend guide to kick-ass custom events

Motor Trend holds some 15 tentpole events a year. Like most publisher events, they are editorially independent, created at scale and easily packaged for sponsorships. The format is predictable, repeatable and reliably monetized. In other words, they are safe. Custom events, like this one, are... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BitTorrent Will Soon Produce Its Own TV Shows

BitTorrent today announced a partnership with Rapid Eye Studios to launch BitTorrent Originals. Together, the pair will create original video content and distribute it exclusively on BitTorrent Bundle, the company’s publishing platform. The post BitTorrent Will Soon Produce Its Own TV Shows... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tumblr's 'big update' promotes essay writing, fewer GIFs

If we're honest, there isn't enough money in monochrome erotica and Benedict Cumberbatch GIFs to sustain a billion-dollar website. That's why Tumblr is doing its very best to become more of a publishing platform that can attract the sort of writing (... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Twitter finally delivers group messaging and video

At its heart, Twitter seems to be suffering from some sort of existential crisis, struggling to work out if it's a social network, a messaging service or a publishing platform. Today sees the company launch two features that, if we're honest, only re... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jeb Bush Wants You to Read His Email

Jeb Bush announced this weekend that he is releasing 250,000 emails from his two terms as Florida’s governor. North Korean hackers may be dismayed that he beat them to it, but Bush 2016 boosters are happy. This move, along with a planned ebook incorporating the emails, was taken as the surest... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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