Dana Chinn

Dana Chinn is a Lecturer of Journalism at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Journalism. She is also a Center for Excellence in Teaching Faculty Fellow, Accreditation Assessment Advisor, and Advisor to the Director for Assessment at Annenberg. Her work focuses on making data accessible to journalists and students, with expertise in data journalism, digital media management, and civic engagement.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from USC
• MBA from USC

Her research explores how data can hold institutions accountable, including analyses of law enforcement shootings via the Washington Post Fatal Force database and tracking open data initiatives in Los Angeles County. She co-authored Open Data LA (2015) and led the Media Impact Project’s efforts to redesign media metrics systems using e-commerce strategies.

Chinn advises the USC Asian American Journalists Association and previously directed the Convergence Core Curriculum and Mobile News Incubator, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between journalism, engineering, and business. She has mentored Google News Lab Fellows and developed innovative curricula.

Labs/Initiatives:

• USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center Media Impact Project
• Mobile News Incubator (cross-disciplinary program)