Daniel Wheaton
Data Journalist, Midwest NewsroomContact: dwheaton@nebraskapublicmedia.org
Job Title: Data Journalist
Topic Expertise: Wheaton is a data journalist with 8 years of experience of collaborating with reporters and editors across all beats and desks. Adept at analyzing demographic, economic and health data. Skilled at applying modern GIS tools to consider the role of space in a dataset. Able to persuade reluctant researchers, public information officers and agencies that sharing data can enlighten the public. Able to communicate the value of data to audio and visual centric reporters and producers.
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Education: As an undergraduate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2015), Wheaton interned at The Omaha World-Herald (2015), Newsday (2015), The Scripps Howard Foundation Wire (2014) and KFOR1240 (2013). He also held multiple positions at The Daily Nebraskan (2011-15).
Language: English
Memberships: Investigative Reporters and Editors
Honors & Awards: Investigative Reporters and Editors, RTDNA Murrow Awards, The Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association, SABEW, San Diego Press Club, California Newspaper Association, American Forensics Association
About Daniel
Daniel Wheaton is a data journalist with experiences across multiple platforms.
At The San Diego Union-Tribune (2016-2021), he was part of the graphics team which provided data visualizations to all sections of the paper— from the Padres to the pandemic. During his tenure there, Wheaton played a role in uncovering former Rep. Duncan Hunter’s misspending of campaign finance funds, which led to his indictment by the FBI. He also helped cover the Poway Synagogue Shooting, an
antisemitic attack in East County. He also hosted and produced the paper’s daily news podcast “The San Diego News Fix” which highlighted the top story each day from the U-T. His work was shared among tronc papers, as well as The Los Angeles Times while the LAT and U-T were part of the same company. Wheaton also was part of the team to create “The San Diego County Almanac” — a yearly special which highlighted more than 90 cities, neighborhoods and communities in the county with maps, data and vignettes.
As an undergraduate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2015), Wheaton interned at The Omaha World-Herald (2015), Newsday (2015), The Scripps Howard Foundation Wire (2014) and KFOR1240 (2013). He also held multiple positions at The Daily Nebraskan (2011-15).
Now with the Midwest Newsroom, Wheaton is the point person on all things data — analysis, visualization and assistance with public records. He also occasionally teaches communication design and data journalism courses at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications, as well as coaches University Speech and Debate. He’s judged countless tournaments, including 4 national final rounds at the collegiate level.
Wheaton has lived in both rural and urban parts of Nebraska, and attended the state’s flagship university, The University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
His undergraduate journalism experiences in Nebraska included working in student media, local radio, and regional papers. During his time at The San Diego Union-Tribune, Wheaton covered many issues facing the region including the persistent homelessness crisis, the high cost of living and how a cross-border community handled new immigration rules created by the Trump Administration.
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The Midwest Newsroom partnered with Emerson College Polling to ask registered voters in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska a wide range of questions ahead of the general election. -
A new survey from The Midwest Newsroom and Emerson College Polling Center asked registered voters in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska about measures on Nov. 5 ballots as well as a variety of political, social and economic subjects. -
VineBrook homes rents thousands of single-family homes to tenants across the Midwest. An investigation by the Midwest Newsroom found a pattern of negligence based on hundreds of complaints from tenants across the region. -
La relación propietario-inquilino puede crear un campo abierto para disputas que pueden terminar en desalojo. Muchos inquilinos no saben que hay leyes y reglamentos que los protegen. Aquellas normas varían de un estado a otro.
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La compañía ha declarado que su estrategia es comprar propiedades de casas de una sola familia en toda la región. Una investigación del Midwest Newsroom descubrió que había descuidos, desalojos agresivos y aumento de rentas de los alquileres donde VineBrook compra propiedades - en su mayoría barrios de personas de color. -
The landlord-tenant relationship can be fertile ground for disputes that can result in eviction. Many renters may not realize there are laws and regulations that protect them, and they vary from state to state.
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The company’s self-declared strategy is to buy single-family rental properties around the region. A Midwest Newsroom investigation uncovered neglect, aggressive evictions and rising rents where VineBrook moves in — mostly non-white neighborhoods.
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A Nebraska regulator is asking a news organization to pay thousands of dollars for the to compile a public records request. -
The Keystone Pipeline started leaking oil Wednesday night. Before it could be fully turned off, some 14,000 barrels had leaked. -
Kansas polling places are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8. See results as they come in for the governor's race, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and constitutional amendment questions.
