CAR Conference 2011 in Raleigh, N.C.

RALEIGH - Stunning data visualizations, practical hands-on software training along with dozens of story ideas for any news organization will make IRE's 2011 Computer-Assisted Reporting Conference a must-attend for data-driven journalists. Prepare for the Census, learn the latest tools for handling data and gain insight into how journalists who got advance access to the Wikileaks data trove sifted for stories. Whether you're a CAR beginner or advanced computer programmer, this year's CAR conference Feb. 24-27 in Raleigh, N.C., will teach the skills you need to advance your career, with our widest range of speakers yet.

Panels and hands-on training topics include:

• Gearing up for Census releases: finding stories and handling data
• Behind the Wikileaks analysis: Handling huge amounts of data on tight deadlines
• Going Open Source — Free software, from spreadsheets to GIS
• Google Refine and other new tools for handling data
• Story ideas and databases to work numerous beats
• Tools for investigative analysis of documents
• The latest in mapping
• Collaborative CAR
• Going it Alone: bloggers and freelancers
• Hands-on track for beginners
• Hands-on track to create Web applications

For a list of expected speakers and panels, visit the CAR conference Web page.