Online mini bootcamps

Want to attend a bootcamp, but can't travel? We have four options for mini bootcamps this fall for everyone from data beginners to people ready to learn how to code. You must be a current IRE member to attend. Registration links are below.

Python for data analysis
Sept. 27-30, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. CT
In this bootcamp, you’ll learn how to use the Python library pandas and a tool called Jupyter notebooks to script your data analyses. We’ll learn how to set up a new project and just enough syntax to cover the steps in a typical data project: loading and inspecting your source data, sorting, filtering, grouping, joining and more. Best for those already familiar with data analysis and ready to take on a programming language.

R for data analysis
Oct. 25-28, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. CT
R is a programming language very popular in newsrooms because you can use it for data analysis, data cleaning and even data visualization. This intro class will get you started in using R to analyze data. Best for people already familiar with introductory data skills using spreadsheets. People with experience in SQL will also benefit from this class.

Getting started in spreadsheets
Nov. 3-4, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT
By the end of this bootcamp you will know how to interview data to find story ideas, some tips and tricks for data cleaning, and how to import data from csv and pdf files. We’ll be using Google Sheets. This two day bootcamp is best for beginners, or people who want to brush up on your spreadsheet skills.

SQL
Dec. 12-15, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. CT
If you’ve used spreadsheets but have large datasets to run, you may have noticed spreadsheets get a little cranky. And slow. And sometimes-it just can’t do it. SQL lets you do many of the same calculations as spreadsheets, but it can handle large datasets with millions of records, and it allows you to join different tables in a dataset. Best for people already familiar with introductory data skills using spreadsheets.

Online Mini Bootcamp tickets use the following price tiers based on the size of your audience:

• Division I: $600
• Division II: $500
• Division III: $400
• Division IV: $300
• University educators: $400
• Educators from HSI, HBCU, TCU and PBI schools, Freelancers, and students: $200

You must also be a current member to attend a bootcamp. If you are not a current member, you will need to join or renew before purchasing a ticket.

If you have questions, please contact logistics@ire.org.

Size definitions for media

Division I

• Newspapers with 400k+ circulation (largest single day, including digital replica)
• Wire services; network or syndicated radio/TV
• Magazines, weeklies, nonprofits, trade publications and online-only media with a national target audience

Division II

• Newspapers with 151,000-399,999 circulation (largest single day, including digital replica)
• Top 20 radio/TV markets
• Magazines, weeklies. nonprofits, trade publications and online-only media with a regional (multi-state) target audience
• Universities with the exception of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), which are in Division IV

Division III

• Newspapers with 75,000-150,999 circulation (largest single day, including digital replica)
• 21-50 radio/TV markets
• Magazines, weeklies, nonprofits, trade publications and online-only media with a state-wide target audience

Division IV

• Newspapers with less than 75,000 circulation (largest single day, including digital replica)
• Below 50 TV/radio markets
• Magazines, weeklies, nonprofits, trade publications and online-only media with a city, county or metropolitan-area target audience
• HSI, HBCU and TCU colleges and universities

If you need to cancel your bootcamp registration, there will be a $200 non-refundable fee until one week prior to the bootcamp. Please email logistics@ire.org to request a cancellation.