Map of the Day: Gothamist Newsmap

Note from the publisher: today we're announcing a new experimental feature in our Gothamist Labs section: the Gothamist News Map. In nearly real time, it's mapping all the police, fire, and breaking news alerts that we receive from the various wire services. Check it out-- you'd be amazed by all the shootings, suicides, fires, and crane-collapses that you're not hearing about on the 6pm news. Some of the data that comes in is unmappable using our location algorithms-- so we've placed that data in a box at the bottom of the screen-- don't forget to glance at that, because often some of the most interesting stuff is down there.

We'd like to thank Faneuil Media for coding the map for us, and Breaking News Network for providing some of the data. If you have any ideas about how we can improve the map, or any data-sources to add to it, please let us know.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jake Dobkin in Miscellaneous on October 3, 2006 10:47 AM

Comments [rss]

uhoh

anon at 6:55-- the tipping point has been reached-- see jimmy legs at 10:52.

Jimmy Legs

is there any way to get further detail about these incidents? i'm seeing a 'shooting' on my block listed but there's no info beyond that. so now i'm thinking there's a guy on that corner just shooting every single person who walks by.

miguelito

But they were there for a long time and did look like an abortion had taken place, which, considering the cost of healthcare, I'm surprised is not more common.

miguelito

On the bklyn hgts promenade this eve I saw a puddle of blood under one of the benches,a funky roll of toilt paper on the bench, and what looked like a fetus in the blood. The cops said they didn't know what it was...

Anonymous

1) it's illegal to report based on scanner traffic

2) a lot of these initial reports turn out to be incorrect and usually wildly inflated, which is why you don't hear about it on the evening news... getting rid of the professional filter has the advantage of immediacy, but how do you balance that against the creation of unnecessary panic and fear?

mihow

This is badass. Well done, Gothamist.

dorkboy

RMP = radio motor patrol, not pool.

newsjunkie

MVA= Motor Vehicle Accident

FDNY Trucks and Engines are often referred to as "Apparatus".

RMP = Radio Motor Pool (a police car).

As a home hobby "scanner junkie" (one step up from being even a news junkie), I enjoy listening to the city agencies handling the problems that occur in this huge metropolis.

Now, having a visual aid to accompany it, it's even better.

ed_Extinct

EDP = Eau De Parfum ;)

Davide

Hey, awesome map. What is Apparatus MVA though? I googled it and it gave me something about motor vehicles. Any ideas?

grif

coolest feature ever.

anonymass

Apparently "Severed Finger" has its own category. Unless this is a regular occurrence at PS 176 in Queens.

powelton

Jake Dobkin, you are a genius. Now when there's an AP or Reuters story about a "building collapse in New York City" or some such--which is enough detail for everyone in the world except those of us in New York City--I will be able to know whether my train is affected or if it's my building. And Jen Chung is a genius too.

Dan

that is totally awesome.

Elderta

Excellent map! Now I can be more paranoid than I already am, but at least I can avoid hot spots.

Weegee would have loved this, too!

peter

How about gawker stalker for a feed?

So next time there's a 50 cent sighting and a shooting on the same block.. at the same time..

Don

Interesting, but is this really useful in anyway, or is it just what Edward Tufte would call "chart junk," meaningless stats in an interesting wrapper? I'd argue you need much more detailed categorization in order to make this of more than passing interest. Kind of like what the police use to track crime stats to target trouble spots. "Severed finger"and "pedestrian struck" are both accidents of a fashion, but so what? It's a big city. Accidents happen.