Visualizing the spread of Coronavirus (Interview)

Harry Stevens is a Graphics Reporter at The Washington Post and the author of “Why outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to ‘flatten the curve’” — the most popular post in The Washington Post’s online history.

We cover the necessary details of this global pandemic, the journalist, coding, and design skills required to be a graphics reporter, the backstory on visualizing this outbreak, why Harry chooses R over Python, advice for aspiring graphics reporters, and how all of this came together at the perfect time in history to give Harry a chance to catch lightning in a bottle.

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Featuring:

• Harry Stevens – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, X
• Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

• Why outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to “flatten the curve” ~ discuss
• COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) real time dashboard ~ full view
• ‘Contagion’ is one of the most popular thrillers on iTunes because of the coronavirus outbreak. Here’s how the film compares to reality.
• D3.js
• RStudio
• The Doctor Who Helped Defeat Smallpox Explains What’s Coming - Epidemiologist Larry Brilliant, who warned of pandemic in 2006, says we can beat the novel coronavirus—but first, we need lots more testing.
• Deadliest Enemy by Michael Osterholm and Mark Olshaker — Our War Against Killer Germs
• Michael Osterholm on Joe Rogan Experience #1439

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!