ProPublica Hires Computational Journalist to Uncover Hidden Stories Through Data

Nick McMillan Joins ProPublica as Computational Journalist ProPublica has hired Nick McMillan as a computational journalist on its data and news apps team, where he will leverage technology and data to uncover stories that would otherwise be inaccessible. McMillan's impressive track record in using cutting-edge tools to unlock reporting paths has earned him recognition from his peers. According to Ken Schwencke, senior editor for data and news applications at ProPublica, "I'm excited for Nick to use those skills to hold power to account at ProPublica." McMillan brings a wealth of experience in combining reporting with data analysis, having worked as a data journalist on the investigations team at NPR. At NPR, McMillan developed innovative tools that transformed raw records into evidence for investigations. One notable example is his custom optical character recognition program, which parsed more than 7,000 government work task files to reveal how a federal program was killing thousands of wild animals with little accountability. He also co-reported a story exposing how power lines operated by Southern California Edison sparked new fires as crews battled existing ones. To support this investigation, McMillan created a tool that processed and transcribed over 2,000 hours of first responder radio into searchable, timestamped audio. McMillan's expertise in using technology to uncover stories has significant implications for investigative journalism. By leveraging data analysis and machine learning algorithms, journalists can now tackle complex topics and expose wrongdoing on a larger scale. This approach also enables the creation of interactive tools that allow readers to explore data-driven narratives in greater depth. ProPublica's hiring of McMillan is part of its ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of investigative journalism through technology. The organization has been at the forefront of using data analysis and machine learning to uncover stories, from exposing corruption in government contracting to revealing the environmental impact of industrial agriculture. As a computational journalist at ProPublica, McMillan will continue to develop innovative tools that empower readers to explore complex topics. His work will undoubtedly contribute to the organization's mission of holding power to account through fearless and independent reporting. In a statement, Schwencke noted, "Nick's experience in developing custom tools and leveraging data analysis to drive investigations makes him an excellent fit for our team." With McMillan on board, ProPublica is poised to continue pushing the frontiers of investigative journalism through technology. *Reporting by Propublica.*