NICAR (officially the CAR Conference) is the annual gathering of data journalists and newsroom coders in the United States, from Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) and their National Institute of Computer-Assisted Reporting (NICAR). It’s where many in the field got their start, and where they return each year to refine their skills, reconnect with colleagues, and share their work and expertise.

We’ll be at NICAR in force this year, and we’re bringing the entire 2015 cohort of Knight-Mozilla Fellows to give them the opportunity to meet members of the community and dig into the technical and cultural details of the field as they get settled into their newsrooms.

Coming to NICAR? Let’s Talk

While you’re at NICAR, Dan Sinker wants to talk to you about becoming a news partner, the Coral Project, and about anything else OpenNews. Erika Owens is taking point on the Knight-Mozilla Fellowships and OpenNews-sponsored hack days and other events, and Erin Kissane will be lurking in sessions and hallways to chat about Source articles, SRCCON pitches, and OpenNews community calls.

And here’s where you can find us:

Thursday, March 5

9:30am-1:30pm: NICAR Conversations (International Foyer)

Led by Erika Owens and David Eads, the Conversations track will cover a wide range of topics in informal discussion. Thursday includes facilitation training, time management, the News Nerd book club, and thoughts on constructive critique. More in the Etherpad.

1:30pm: The California Code Rush (International Foyer)

OpenNews has been helping out with the California Code Rush—join Ben Welsh and Aaron Williams of the California Civic Data Coalition close tickets, and win prizes for your efforts. New to coding? Never fear, the team on hand will help you get set up and rolling.

Friday, March 6

9:30am-1:30pm: NICAR Conversations (International Foyer)

Led by Erika Owens and David Eads, the Conversations track will cover a wide range of topics in informal discussion. Friday’s topics include leaving journalism for the wider tech world, salaries, side projects, political nerdery, and diversity in recruiting. More in the Etherpad.

Saturday, March 7

9:30am-1:30pm: NICAR Conversations (International Foyer)

Led by Erika Owens and David Eads, the Conversations track will cover a wide range of topics in informal discussion. Thursday includes internal tools for large datasets, working with international colleagues, the “hybrid reporter,” and the future of Tarbell. More in the Etherpad.

11:20am: Go Home and Share Your Work! (International 4-5)

A couple days at NICAR will fill your head with new skills and knowledge, the kinds of things that not only make you a better journalist, but can have a huge effect on colleagues when you get home. Erika Owens joins OpenNews alum Kio Stark and the BBC’s Ransome Mpini to talk through practical strategies for sharing what you’ve learned with your newsroom.

12:30-2:30pm: Coral Project Jam Session (Atrium Foyer)

Simple. Flexible. Modular. Open source. That’s the kind of software we want to create at the Coral Project, the Mozilla/New York Times/Washington Post collaboration aimed at improving communities on news sites. We’re looking for a lead developer to help us craft it, and we also want to hear from you about what we should do and how we should do it.

Check out the lead developer listing and please do stop by to chat about the project and how we can make it work for news organizations large and small. Greg Barber will be on the scene, and waiting to hear from you—hit Greg up on email if you want to set up a one-on-one.

1pm: OpenNews Lonely Coders Lunch

Are you the only developer or data nerd in your newsroom? We want to buy you lunch! Come hang out with others in the same situation, trade tips, and make contacts for long-distance pair work. The lunch is now full, but check out the related panel later Saturday afternoon.