Journalist's Toolbox Newsletter XLIV

March 22, 2022

Mar 22

Productivity Tools

Digital tools can be an incredible time suck, but only if you let them. If used correctly and with moderation, a good app or desktop tool can create a workflow that speeds your productivity exponentially.

I’ve compiled dozens of productivity resources on the Journalist’s Toolbox. Victor Hernandez, the executive editor of WBUR in Boston, has listed several of his best management tools on this Trello board — which happens to be a good productivity tool itself. (Full disclosure: This board includes some of my tools as well as Victor and I co-presented at NICAR’s and SPJ’s 2021 conferences.

One of the best resources for productivity tools tailored for journalists is CUNY professor Jeremy Caplan’s Wonder Tools newsletter. His weekly newsletter breaks down time-save tools for workflow, productivity, life hacks and time management.

Another of my favorite stops is Product Hunt, which lists the latest and greatest tools and products for improving your life in general. But many of those tools also carry over to reporting and editing.

Video: Here’s a six-part playlist demonstrating some of my favorite productivity tools:

Around the Web

The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Fiscal 50 Database
The “Fiscal 50” interactive provides free, 50-state data on a range of fiscal and economic indicators of state fiscal health. It helps statehouse reporters break out of the annual “budget bubble” and visualize long-term trends for their state–or the ability to compare their state to its peers.
GIJN Guide: Business Tools for Newsrooms
Productivity and management tools for small newsrooms, including communication, management, file sharing, audience engagement, data visualization, security, passwords and more.
World Climate Service
WCS provides global subseasonal and seasonal forecast (i.e., long-range forecasts) to commercial entities. The site is helpful to journalists because long-lead forecasts are becoming a critical source of information to detect emerging climate hazard risks.

Cool Tool Tuesday

Don’t forget that at 1 p.m. CT each Tuesday, we feature a new resource on #cooltooltuesday, like you see in our Around the Web section of this newsletter. Be sure to check it out and retweet it. Here’s a video of some of my past faves:

Tips Welcome

If you like the resources we share in this newsletter, on Twitter, the YouTube training videos or on the Toolbox site, you can send Mike Reilley a tip on Twitter. Just open the Twitter app, go to @journtoolbox and click on the tip button in his profile header and tip away. Tips are never expected but always appreciated.

In Quotes …

“There is no such thing as a little freedom. Either you are all free, or you are not free.” -- Walter Cronkite

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