Emilia Ruzicka

If you're at @ire.org's NICAR, don't forget alt text on images you share in social media posts. If you're fuzzy on alt text best practices, @stacykess.bsky.social, @emiliaruzicka.bsky.social, and have a session tomorrow followed by another session where they will dig deeper.

#NICAR26 #NICAR2026

Heraldic crests were created to represent families and soldiers at a glance in medieval Europe. They had to be visually striking, but also communicate the history, personality, and intentions of those they represented. Every element of a heraldic crest means something and was chosen with care.

Remember that time I did a #NICAR lightning talk about how medieval heraldry can teach us about how to make better data stories? Well, I made the lightning talk into a pre- #NICAR26 project! Go check it out! emiliaruzicka.com/LessonsInHer...

This is a great way to make sure your social posts are accessible! And if you don’t know how to write alt text, join @stacykess.bsky.social and I for our “Implementing Accessibility” session at #NICAR26 on Friday!

For any and all who will be at @ire.org's NICAR this year, please come to these sessions about accessibility! #NICAR26

Speaking aside, I’m pumped to connect with friends new and old this year at #NICAR26. I’m also still on the hunt for a full-time job, so if you or someone you know is looking for a data/investigative journalist, editor, or something related, please don’t hesitate to shoot me a message! (4/4)

On Saturday, I’ll join @byadamrhodes.bsky.social for “Reporting on disappearing data about LGBTQ+ people.” Tons of government and other data about LGBTQ+ folks has gone missing in the last few years, so we’re sharing tips and tricks for filling in or circumventing the gaps. (3/4)

Directly after “Accessibility Basics,” we’ll head into a hands-on session called “Implementing Accessibility” so you can try your hand at writing useful alt text in an interactive setting. We’ll explore real-world examples of tricky alt text problems and help you solve them! (2/4)

A photo of Emilia Ruzicka with short curly brown hair and a blue collared shirt in the top left corner. Text to the right of the photo reads, “Emilia Ruzicka, Freelance Journalist.” Text at the bottom of the image reads, “I’m speaking at NICAR26, Indianapolis, March 5-8, 2026.”

I am impossibly excited to be speaking at #NICAR26 in Indianapolis!

On Friday, I’ll be kicking things off with @stacykess.bsky.social and @patrickmgarvin.bsky.social for “Accessibility Basics.” We’ll give you a crash course in implementing more accessible practices in your own newsroom! (1/4)

Can’t wait to join @stacykess.bsky.social and @patrickmgarvin.bsky.social to present #AccessibilityBasics and #ImplementingAccessibility at #NICAR26! If you’ll be there, come join us!!

It was a pleasure to review Milan Janosov’s book for @datavizsociety.bsky.social. Go check it out!

Yes!!! Me, proposing a whole bunch of accessibility panels with @patrickmgarvin.bsky.social and @emiliaruzicka.bsky.social...

#NICAR26

A hand holding a physical copy of the Dashboards That Deliver book at a slight angle against a blue wall

I’ve had Dashboards That Deliver at my desk for a few weeks—I flip through the scenarios when I feel uninspired or stuck to kick my creativity back into gear! Thanks to Amanda Makulec, @acotgreave.bsky.social, Jeffrey Shaffer, and @datarevelations.com for putting together such an amazing book!

So excited to do this with two great people, @emiliaruzicka.bsky.social and @inclusivepixel.bsky.social. Other trainings are general accessibility trainings, but not specific to news or newsrooms. This is built around journalism, for journalism organizations, and for news outlets.

Words can’t express how excited I am to offer this new training program in collaboration with @equalaccesspublicmedia.org, @stacykess.bsky.social, and @inclusivepixel.bsky.social. If your newsroom is looking for journalism-specific accessibility training, check us out!

An AccessFest speaker card for Emilia Ruzicka. Their headshot facing forward, smiling, in a blue collared shirt if in the center and the top reads, “I’m speaking at AccessFest. Virtual by design. Oct 9-11, 2025.”

Thrilled to be speaking alongside Tammye Nash and Kate Sosin about reporting about, for, and with gender-expansive communities. Come join us today at 11am ET at IRE’s #AccessFest25 !

All three of these sessions are going to be good! (And I say that not just because I'm in the last one, but because @stacykess.bsky.social, @emiliaruzicka.bsky.social, @joannaskao.bsky.social, Sam Evans, and Johny Cassidy are all great people who are helping making journalism more accessible.

#AccessFest25 starts today! Come join @stacykess.bsky.social and I to chat about making your interviews more accessible today at 11am ET!

The final overnight (Chicago, IL to Pittsburgh, PA) Or, going the distance

I wrote this while on my last overnight train of the trip. Read below! open.substack.com/pub/eruzicka...

Short and sweet (St. Louis, MO to Chicago, IL) Or, fitting in, standing out, and starting over

Some introspective adventures in St. Louis—take a peek! open.substack.com/pub/eruzicka...

A short stay (Little Rock, AR to St. Louis, MO) Or, learning from people

My stay in Little Rock was short, so this one’s a quick read! Check it out! open.substack.com/pub/eruzicka...

Integrating Emerging Technology in Newsrooms Must Preserve Journalistic Agency In interviews with more than 70 journalism professionals, Emilia Ruzicka found that daily journalists are being left out of conversations about the future of AI in the field.

📰 What 70+ journalists said about AI & the future of news

Most are using it only for quick fixes — transcription, OCR, headline tweaks.

Why? Shrinking teams & heavy demands leave little space to think long term.

👉 Full findings from @emiliaruzicka.bsky.social: cnti.org/guest-essay/...

All in a day’s thought (Austin, TX to Little Rock, AR) Or, contemplating legacies

This dispatch took many forms before I finally sent it out. See what I settled on after hours of contemplation on the train! open.substack.com/pub/eruzicka...

All day and all night (Tucson, AZ to Austin, TX) Or, when the train gives me time to think

I’m still thinking about everything I experienced in Tucson. Here’s a debrief of what has stuck with me so far! open.substack.com/pub/eruzicka...

Chatting with the authors of Dashboards That Deliver gave me some incredible insights into their teamwork and attitude towards writing. Check it out!

It was an absolute blast reviewing Dashboards That Deliver! Anyone who does #dataviz should go check it out! @datavizsociety.bsky.social

Just another night (Los Angeles, CA to Tucson, AZ) Or, when it rains, it pours

New newsletter from late last night! Check out my LA adventures! open.substack.com/pub/eruzicka...

Integrating Emerging Technology in Newsrooms Must Preserve Journalistic Agency In interviews with more than 70 journalism professionals, Emilia Ruzicka found that daily journalists are being left out of conversations about the future of AI in the field.

I had the pleasure of writing an article about journalism’s relationship with AI and what’s at stake as journalists continue to integrate emerging technologies for @cnti.bsky.social Give it a read! cnti.org/guest-essay/...

From the mountains to the ocean (Sacramento, CA to Los Angeles, CA) Or, reflecting on lost stories

Spending all day on the train to LA has left me tons of time to think. This one is a bit heavy, but addresses issues that are more than worth the effort. open.substack.com/pub/eruzicka...

Through the Night (Portland, OR to Sacramento, CA) Or, finding balance with friends

Headed on my first overnight train ride! Here’s a newsletter before I go to bed! open.substack.com/pub/eruzicka...

Trains all the way down (Seattle, WA to Portland, OR) Or, what happens when I'm left to my own devices

Late last night (or early this morning, depending on your time zone), I posted about the next leg of my journey! Check it out to see what I learned in Seattle! open.substack.com/pub/eruzicka...