Aleszu
@aleszu.bsky.social
Data Scientist, Advance Local • Fmr director of dataviz, Urban Institute • Alum USA TODAY Investigations, Undark magazine, Esquire, Science Friday • Knight Fellow at MIT ‘14 • Taught @ Northeastern • Built Storybench.org • Peruano-gringo • Cleveland OH
Very cool that Storybench.org, the behind the scenes of data and digital storytelling blog I started 10 years ago is still going strong! Thanks to incredible students, professors and contributors like @walinchus.bsky.social
There are a lot of great posts out there that aren't very highly ranked.
Don't rely on bluesky to find you great content; you can find it on your own! Here's how:
#Rstats via @northeasternu.bsky.social's Storybench
www.storybench.org/how-to-analy...
Don't rely on bluesky to find you great content; you can find it on your own! Here's how:
#Rstats via @northeasternu.bsky.social's Storybench
www.storybench.org/how-to-analy...
How to Analyze bluesky Posts and Trends with R - Storybench
If all you're doing on bluesky is scrolling, liking and posting, then you're riding a bike with training wheels. Here are simple tools using its open-source skeleton.
www.storybench.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Very cool that Storybench.org, the behind the scenes of data and digital storytelling blog I started 10 years ago is still going strong! Thanks to incredible students, professors and contributors like @walinchus.bsky.social
Bloomberg used a ResNet-18 CNN model to classify waste sites in Gaza, and “every computer-generated result was manually validated to ensure the highest possible accuracy.”
read our report which uses satellite imagery to map environmental catastrophe in gaza
with @denisedslu.bsky.social
🎁: www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
with @denisedslu.bsky.social
🎁: www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
July 29, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Bloomberg used a ResNet-18 CNN model to classify waste sites in Gaza, and “every computer-generated result was manually validated to ensure the highest possible accuracy.”
Reposted by Aleszu
My investigation on the cannabis industry for @undark.org — supported by @pulitzercenter.bsky.social — took me from farms in OR to MA testing labs to the OK capitol, uncovering corruption and highlighting change makers along the way.
It's quite the ride. Enjoy! undark.org/2025/07/16/c...
It's quite the ride. Enjoy! undark.org/2025/07/16/c...
Weed Regulation is Foundering. For Answers, Look to the Labs
Lots of legal marijuana is sold with inflated THC levels or unsafe contaminants. Can the oversight system be reformed?
undark.org
July 16, 2025 at 3:54 PM
My investigation on the cannabis industry for @undark.org — supported by @pulitzercenter.bsky.social — took me from farms in OR to MA testing labs to the OK capitol, uncovering corruption and highlighting change makers along the way.
It's quite the ride. Enjoy! undark.org/2025/07/16/c...
It's quite the ride. Enjoy! undark.org/2025/07/16/c...
Reposted by Aleszu
If you thought legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use would make it safer and free of contaminants, think again. Labs cheat and cheating labs get more business, @undark.org reports. The answer is more state-run labs.
By @teresacarr.bsky.social
Data viz by @aleszu.bsky.social
By @teresacarr.bsky.social
Data viz by @aleszu.bsky.social
My investigation on the cannabis industry for @undark.org — supported by @pulitzercenter.bsky.social — took me from farms in OR to MA testing labs to the OK capitol, uncovering corruption and highlighting change makers along the way.
It's quite the ride. Enjoy! undark.org/2025/07/16/c...
It's quite the ride. Enjoy! undark.org/2025/07/16/c...
Weed Regulation is Foundering. For Answers, Look to the Labs
Lots of legal marijuana is sold with inflated THC levels or unsafe contaminants. Can the oversight system be reformed?
undark.org
July 17, 2025 at 1:40 AM
If you thought legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use would make it safer and free of contaminants, think again. Labs cheat and cheating labs get more business, @undark.org reports. The answer is more state-run labs.
By @teresacarr.bsky.social
Data viz by @aleszu.bsky.social
By @teresacarr.bsky.social
Data viz by @aleszu.bsky.social
Reposted by Aleszu
We worked with the team at DFP to evaluate tools and establish a workflow for creating short-form vertical video. We wanted to find a way to edit and caption the most important parts of city council meeting videos, which are posted online, to publish on social media. rjionline.org/news/how-to-...
How to transform public meetings into engaging social media clips
Testing Descript, OpusClip and Veed.
rjionline.org
July 8, 2025 at 10:04 PM
We worked with the team at DFP to evaluate tools and establish a workflow for creating short-form vertical video. We wanted to find a way to edit and caption the most important parts of city council meeting videos, which are posted online, to publish on social media. rjionline.org/news/how-to-...
Reposted by Aleszu
Satellite imagery has unique qualities that make it suitable for investigative journalism. It allows observation of inaccessible places, views of wide areas, monitoring over time, and even “see” the invisible. Read more in my latest post:
medium.com/@robsimmon/n...
#dataviz #ddj #cartography
medium.com/@robsimmon/n...
#dataviz #ddj #cartography
July 10, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Satellite imagery has unique qualities that make it suitable for investigative journalism. It allows observation of inaccessible places, views of wide areas, monitoring over time, and even “see” the invisible. Read more in my latest post:
medium.com/@robsimmon/n...
#dataviz #ddj #cartography
medium.com/@robsimmon/n...
#dataviz #ddj #cartography
Reposted by Aleszu
The #SCIMaP team announces a major update: an analysis of the economic impacts of the White House's NIH FY26 budget.
Bottom-line, we estimate $46B in total economic loss, 202K lost jobs, and impacts in communities nationwide.
Interactive map and shareable report:
scienceimpacts.org/fy26
a 🧵
Bottom-line, we estimate $46B in total economic loss, 202K lost jobs, and impacts in communities nationwide.
Interactive map and shareable report:
scienceimpacts.org/fy26
a 🧵
June 23, 2025 at 7:10 PM
The #SCIMaP team announces a major update: an analysis of the economic impacts of the White House's NIH FY26 budget.
Bottom-line, we estimate $46B in total economic loss, 202K lost jobs, and impacts in communities nationwide.
Interactive map and shareable report:
scienceimpacts.org/fy26
a 🧵
Bottom-line, we estimate $46B in total economic loss, 202K lost jobs, and impacts in communities nationwide.
Interactive map and shareable report:
scienceimpacts.org/fy26
a 🧵
Reposted by Aleszu
The Wayback Machine is an indispensable tool for archiving web content. It's also a powerful search engine that can dig up deleted webpages and social media posts.
Here's the Indicator guide to getting the most out of the Wayback machine: indicator.media/p/ge...
Here's the Indicator guide to getting the most out of the Wayback machine: indicator.media/p/ge...
Getting the most out of the Wayback Machine
Tips for the Wayback Machine browser extension, API, and more!
indicator.media
May 27, 2025 at 7:04 PM
The Wayback Machine is an indispensable tool for archiving web content. It's also a powerful search engine that can dig up deleted webpages and social media posts.
Here's the Indicator guide to getting the most out of the Wayback machine: indicator.media/p/ge...
Here's the Indicator guide to getting the most out of the Wayback machine: indicator.media/p/ge...
LolArchiver launches a new tool: YouTube Comment History. View all video comments from a specific user. So far they’ve archived 20 billion comments from 1.4 billion different accounts. youtube-tools.lolarchiver.com via @craigsilverman.bsky.social
Youtube-Tools | User Comments History
Search any YouTube user comment history with ease. Access over 20 billion comments from more than 1.4 billion users, recorded since 2005. Quickly find and explore user comment histories for research, ...
youtube-tools.lolarchiver.com
May 23, 2025 at 12:03 PM
LolArchiver launches a new tool: YouTube Comment History. View all video comments from a specific user. So far they’ve archived 20 billion comments from 1.4 billion different accounts. youtube-tools.lolarchiver.com via @craigsilverman.bsky.social
Reposted by Aleszu
One Pulitzer Prize winner (and three finalists) disclosed using AI to this year's judging committee.
I spoke to the reporters behind those stories about how they leaned on AI tools in their investigations. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/05/how-...
I spoke to the reporters behind those stories about how they leaned on AI tools in their investigations. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/05/how-...
How this year’s Pulitzer awardees used AI in their reporting
For a second year, the Pulitzer Prizes required applicants to divulge AI usage — one winner and three finalists disclosed.
www.niemanlab.org
May 22, 2025 at 7:51 PM
One Pulitzer Prize winner (and three finalists) disclosed using AI to this year's judging committee.
I spoke to the reporters behind those stories about how they leaned on AI tools in their investigations. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/05/how-...
I spoke to the reporters behind those stories about how they leaned on AI tools in their investigations. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/05/how-...
Reposted by Aleszu
I tracked more than 1,000 accounts that Elon Musk follows on X to recreate what he sees www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Inside Elon Musk’s X Feed: Trumpism, Falsehoods and Lots of Love for Elon Musk
The New York Times tracked 1,109 accounts that Mr. Musk follows on X to recreate his news feed.
www.nytimes.com
May 15, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I tracked more than 1,000 accounts that Elon Musk follows on X to recreate what he sees www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Aleszu
Our team just launched three new tools to help you explore social media data:
🌉NewsBridge – Adds AI-powered context to Facebook posts
🔍 Barney’s Tavern – Search 34B social media posts
🌐 OSoMeNet – Visualize how info spreads across platforms
Learn more and try them out:
osome.iu.edu/research/blo...
🌉NewsBridge – Adds AI-powered context to Facebook posts
🔍 Barney’s Tavern – Search 34B social media posts
🌐 OSoMeNet – Visualize how info spreads across platforms
Learn more and try them out:
osome.iu.edu/research/blo...
Three New Tools to Explore Social Media
The Observatory on Social Media (OSoMe, pronounced “awesome”) is excited to introduce three new tools that will make it easier to study and engage with...
osome.iu.edu
May 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Our team just launched three new tools to help you explore social media data:
🌉NewsBridge – Adds AI-powered context to Facebook posts
🔍 Barney’s Tavern – Search 34B social media posts
🌐 OSoMeNet – Visualize how info spreads across platforms
Learn more and try them out:
osome.iu.edu/research/blo...
🌉NewsBridge – Adds AI-powered context to Facebook posts
🔍 Barney’s Tavern – Search 34B social media posts
🌐 OSoMeNet – Visualize how info spreads across platforms
Learn more and try them out:
osome.iu.edu/research/blo...
Reposted by Aleszu
1/ For ProPublica’s “Life of the Mother” series, winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for public service, we reported on five pregnant women who died after not receiving timely medical care in states with strict abortion bans.
These are their stories 🧵
These are their stories 🧵
May 7, 2025 at 12:00 AM
1/ For ProPublica’s “Life of the Mother” series, winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for public service, we reported on five pregnant women who died after not receiving timely medical care in states with strict abortion bans.
These are their stories 🧵
These are their stories 🧵
“The strongest media organizations I've encountered understand that people don't seek out journalism for journalism's sake - they want solutions to problems, ways to improve their lives, recognition, community.“ @pboehler.net www.pboehler.net/theory-of-se...
Stop pretending journalism matters on its own
Learning to measure journalism by its human value.
www.pboehler.net
May 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
“The strongest media organizations I've encountered understand that people don't seek out journalism for journalism's sake - they want solutions to problems, ways to improve their lives, recognition, community.“ @pboehler.net www.pboehler.net/theory-of-se...
Reposted by Aleszu
Join my team at NPR! We're hiring for a senior graphics reporter. Remote-friendly (in the US). grnh.se/f78153425us
Senior Graphics Reporter
Remote
grnh.se
May 2, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Join my team at NPR! We're hiring for a senior graphics reporter. Remote-friendly (in the US). grnh.se/f78153425us
Reposted by Aleszu
🚨We're hiring! 🚨
The @wpdatateam.bsky.social is looking for a computational journalist -- someone who can help tell big national stories but also work across our team in developing best devops and big data practices. We value camaraderie, learning and collaboration. Feel free to reach out w/ Qs:
The @wpdatateam.bsky.social is looking for a computational journalist -- someone who can help tell big national stories but also work across our team in developing best devops and big data practices. We value camaraderie, learning and collaboration. Feel free to reach out w/ Qs:
Computational Journalist, Data Reporting
Application Instructions Please list all professional experience and explain any gaps in employment history. All of your application materials, which may include PDF files of work samples and/or links...
washpost.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
May 2, 2025 at 4:17 PM
🚨We're hiring! 🚨
The @wpdatateam.bsky.social is looking for a computational journalist -- someone who can help tell big national stories but also work across our team in developing best devops and big data practices. We value camaraderie, learning and collaboration. Feel free to reach out w/ Qs:
The @wpdatateam.bsky.social is looking for a computational journalist -- someone who can help tell big national stories but also work across our team in developing best devops and big data practices. We value camaraderie, learning and collaboration. Feel free to reach out w/ Qs:
Bloomberg analyzed data, “which covers Jan. 1, 2012 through Feb. 17, 2025, obtained from the Deportation Data Project. The dataset includes records of more than 3.5 million ICE detainees and the dates when the detainees entered and left facilites.”
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
May 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Bloomberg analyzed data, “which covers Jan. 1, 2012 through Feb. 17, 2025, obtained from the Deportation Data Project. The dataset includes records of more than 3.5 million ICE detainees and the dates when the detainees entered and left facilites.”
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
The AP “ran the text of [push] alerts through a model called BAAI general embedding to vectorize it. We then ran a similarity search over the vectors, using a FAISS index, and boosted the specific terms ‘Trump’ and ‘U.S. government.’” apnews.com/projects/tru...
The push alerts of the first 100 days of the Trump administration
apnews.com
April 30, 2025 at 1:18 AM
The AP “ran the text of [push] alerts through a model called BAAI general embedding to vectorize it. We then ran a similarity search over the vectors, using a FAISS index, and boosted the specific terms ‘Trump’ and ‘U.S. government.’” apnews.com/projects/tru...
Reposted by Aleszu
So much to love in the scrollytelling — the ternary plot, the depth of the data, the findings — but my favourite part is the explanation and the text in general. 📊
Remember, a chart doesn't have to be understood in 3 seconds. It should reward the effort you put into understanding it.
Remember, a chart doesn't have to be understood in 3 seconds. It should reward the effort you put into understanding it.
This triangle helps explain a titanic shift in how Australia votes
This triangle is going to help us explain how Australian politics has fundamentally changed over the past five decades.
www.abc.net.au
April 26, 2025 at 8:17 PM
So much to love in the scrollytelling — the ternary plot, the depth of the data, the findings — but my favourite part is the explanation and the text in general. 📊
Remember, a chart doesn't have to be understood in 3 seconds. It should reward the effort you put into understanding it.
Remember, a chart doesn't have to be understood in 3 seconds. It should reward the effort you put into understanding it.
Reposted by Aleszu
I really appreciate news stories that take a phenomenon we all generally implicitly understand or assume but don't have any hard data or evidence for, then meticulously prove it. Well done @stuartathompson.bsky.social.
They Criticized Musk on X. Then Their Reach Collapsed.
Three users who disagreed with the site’s owner saw views for their posts plummet.
www.nytimes.com
April 23, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I really appreciate news stories that take a phenomenon we all generally implicitly understand or assume but don't have any hard data or evidence for, then meticulously prove it. Well done @stuartathompson.bsky.social.
“Data from the Nature Careers global science jobs platform show that US scientists submitted 32% more applications for jobs abroad between January and March 2025 than during the same period in 2024” www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: a Nature analysis signals the beginnings of a US science brain drain
A trawl of job views and application data suggests jobseekers are looking abroad as the Trump administration’s cuts to science take hold.
www.nature.com
April 22, 2025 at 12:27 PM
“Data from the Nature Careers global science jobs platform show that US scientists submitted 32% more applications for jobs abroad between January and March 2025 than during the same period in 2024” www.nature.com/articles/d41...
“I think it's hard to overstate what a significant departure this is and the reshaping of longstanding norms and expectations that people have about what the government does with their data,” says Elizabeth Laird at the Center for Democracy and Technology www.wired.com/story/doge-c...
DOGE Is Building a Master Database to Surveil and Track Immigrants
DOGE is knitting together data from the Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration, an IRS that could create a surveillance tool of unprecedented scope.
www.wired.com
April 20, 2025 at 11:23 AM
“I think it's hard to overstate what a significant departure this is and the reshaping of longstanding norms and expectations that people have about what the government does with their data,” says Elizabeth Laird at the Center for Democracy and Technology www.wired.com/story/doge-c...
Reposted by Aleszu
This is an EXCELLENT article. I teach statistics to public policy students & tell them that data are essential for making the world a better place. We need good data to assess the state of things, see how things have changed over time, & evaluate if policies work.
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Trump’s War on Measurement Means Losing Data on Drug Use, Maternal Mortality, Climate Change and More
By slashing teams that gather critical data, the administration has left the federal government with no way of understanding if policies are working — and created a black hole of information whose con...
www.propublica.org
April 18, 2025 at 6:47 PM
This is an EXCELLENT article. I teach statistics to public policy students & tell them that data are essential for making the world a better place. We need good data to assess the state of things, see how things have changed over time, & evaluate if policies work.
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Reposted by Aleszu
The Post identified several instances of Trump or DOGE implementing policy ideas proposed to Musk by users on X. Some proposals went from Musk's X feed to the White House Briefing Room in just hours. with @erxclau.me @azipaybarah.bsky.social & Talia Trackim
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Elon Musk gets government policy ideas from X. Here’s how.
A look at which accounts — big and small — have Musk’s ear and how some appear to have sparked action from Musk and the Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 14, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The Post identified several instances of Trump or DOGE implementing policy ideas proposed to Musk by users on X. Some proposals went from Musk's X feed to the White House Briefing Room in just hours. with @erxclau.me @azipaybarah.bsky.social & Talia Trackim
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...