For reporters, satellite data offers unique opportunities for original investigations and visual storytelling. But how do you get started? And what should you be looking out for? I spoke to four journalists who regularly work with satellite data about how to start, best practices and — most importantly — mistakes to avoid. Here’s what I learned: Managing expectations The first thing you’ll need to do is manage your (and your editor’s) expectations....
Satellite images show devastation from earthquake in Haiti
Satellites captured the trail of destruction left behind by the earthquake that killed more than 2000, and injured over 12,000 people in Haiti. The photos show collapsed buildings, massive landslides, and cathedrals reduced to ruins. The 7.2-magnitude quake struck five miles from the town of Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, about 80 miles west of the capital Port-au-Prince, according to The United States Geological Survey. Shockwaves were felt as far way as Jamaica, 200 miles away....
A devastating fire season in Siberia
Boreal forests on fire A devastating fire season in Siberia By Niels de Hoog Published August 18, 2021 Siberia is experiencing one of its worst fire seasons in recent history. Since the start of this year, fires in Russia have burnt through more than nine million hectares of forest — an area more than twice the size of Denmark — according to the Russian Federal Forestry Agency....
9 ways to use satellite data in your reporting
For a journalist wanting to get start using satellite data in their reporting, the wealth of options can be overwhelming. There is an increasing amount of satellite data openly available, and figuring out how it might fit into a story is often a challenge. Based on a sample of over fifty stories, I’ve identified nine categories that sum up the most common uses of satellite data in journalism. These categories are not always mutually exclusive — in some cases there is some overlap....