Webinar: Policing in the Era of Big Data

Hosted by USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism

In the age of algorithms and informatics, law enforcement agencies across the country have turned to data-driven programs to help fight crime. But what happens when such programs infringe on civil rights, amplify racial biases or become abusive? And how can journalists hold those agencies accountable while detailing the steep human costs for those targeted? In this webinar, 2021 Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporters Kathleen McGrory and Neil Bedi will explain how they unearthed a secretive policing operation in Florida that used data to harass residents and profile schoolchildren. And they will discuss strategies that reporters can use to go beyond press releases and sniff out similar programs in their own communities. They’ll also share practical reporting tips for fact-checking police claims, finding the right people to bring the story to life, and some broader lessons learned from landing difficult stories in the face of sustained opposition.

WHEN: July 21, 2021, from 8-9 a.m. PT / 11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET

REGISTER: [Click here]