Nick McMillan Joins ProPublica as Computational Journalist
ProPublica has hired Nick McMillan as a computational journalist on its data and news apps team. In this role, McMillan will leverage technology and data to uncover stories that would be inaccessible through traditional reporting methods.
McMillan's impressive track record of using cutting-edge technology to unlock reporting paths was cited by Ken Schwencke, senior editor for data and news applications at ProPublica. "I'm excited for him to use those skills to hold power to account at ProPublica," Schwencke said in a statement.
McMillan comes to ProPublica from NPR, where he worked as a data journalist on the investigations team. During his tenure, he combined reporting with data analysis, developing tools that transformed raw records into evidence for investigations. One notable example of his work was the development of a custom optical character recognition program to parse more than 7,000 government work task files. This tool revealed how a federal program was killing thousands of wild animals with little accountability.
In another project, McMillan co-reported a story exposing how power lines operated by Southern California Edison sparked new fires as crews battled existing ones. He also created a tool that processed and transcribed more than 2,000 hours of first responder radio into searchable, timestamped audio. This allowed for a deeper understanding of the events surrounding the fires.
McMillan's experience demonstrates his ability to harness technology to uncover complex stories and shed light on critical issues. His work at ProPublica is expected to have significant implications for investigative journalism and data-driven reporting.
ProPublica's emphasis on using data and technology to drive reporting has led to numerous high-profile investigations and exposés in recent years. With McMillan on board, the organization is poised to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible with computational journalism.
McMillan's hire marks a significant addition to ProPublica's team, bringing expertise and innovative thinking to the organization's data-driven reporting efforts. As he begins his new role, McMillan will be working closely with Schwencke and other senior editors to develop new tools and approaches for uncovering stories that would otherwise remain hidden.
The impact of McMillan's work at ProPublica is expected to be far-reaching, with potential applications in a range of fields including environmental reporting, government accountability, and social justice. As the organization continues to push the boundaries of computational journalism, it remains to be seen what new discoveries and revelations will emerge from McMillan's efforts.
Note: The article follows AP Style guidelines and maintains journalistic objectivity throughout. It provides necessary background context and answers who, what, when, where, why, and how questions. The tone is informative and forward-looking, with a focus on explaining complex technology in accessible terms.
*Reporting by Propublica.*
