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SpatialNews.com Press Release
CBS News Unveils GIS Computer Mapping For 2004 Presidential Election Coverage
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Redlands, California-For the first time ever, CBS News will use geographic information system (GIS) to generate maps for its 2004 election coverage.
The advanced system will allow CBS News to show which presidential candidate is leading in each county around the country. The data will be updated dozens of times throughout the night. These information-rich displays will be featured in analysis from the CBS News Election Data Center and the Presidential Analysis Desk.
GIS software from industry leader ESRI, based in Redlands, California, will help explain exit poll results with in-depth demographic maps. This demographic insight will enable CBS News to show where certain income, education, racial and other groups are concentrated, and how those areas voted in the presidential contest.
GIS will be able to show, for example, the counties where concentrations of college graduates live and whether those counties voted for Republican or Democrat. The result will be a qualitative leap forward in reporting on national voting patterns by CBS News and will provide both a richer analysis and more dynamic visual presentation.
"The GIS mapping and data system will allows us, for the first time, to show county-level election results integrated with demographic data that can be presented using 3D digital maps," said Al Ortiz, Executive Producer and Director, Special Events, CBS News. "The system will enrich the presentation of results for our viewers."
"We're honored to be collaborating with CBS News to enhance its ability to present information-rich graphics as part of its 2004 election coverage," says Jack Dangermond, president, ESRI. "CBS News is at the forefront of using computer mapping to enhance election coverage and visual presentation."
To develop the CBS News election mapping capabilities, ESRI used its ArcGIS software. CBS News will also have available for use more than a dozen different demographic characteristics, including income, population, race, education level, and more from ESRI Business Information Solution data products.
For more information about how GIS software is used in elections, please visit www.esri.com/elections.
About ESRI
For more than 30 years, ESRI has been the leading developer of GIS software with more than 300,000 clients worldwide. ESRI software is used in all 200 of the largest cities in the United States and in more than 60 percent of counties and municipalities nationwide. Headquartered in California, ESRI has regional offices throughout the United States, international distributors in more than 90 countries, and more than 1,600 business partners. ESRI's goal is to develop comprehensive tools that enable users to efficiently manage, use, and serve geographic information to make a difference in the world around them. ESRI also provides consulting, implementation, and technical support services. ESRI can be found on the Web at www.esri.com.
About CBS
The CBS News Division operates a worldwide news organization serving the CBS Television and Radio Networks with regularly scheduled news and public affairs broadcasts - including, among others, the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH DAN RATHER, THE EARLY SHOW, 60 MINUTES, 60 MINUTES WEDNESDAY, 48 HOURS, FACE THE NATION and SUNDAY MORNING - and special reports on breaking news. The division maintains 18 news bureaus and offices in the United States and abroad in addition to its world headquarters in New York.
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