Getting started with Dataminr: A guide for newsrooms

Dataminr is a real-time breaking news detection platform that aggregates information from police scanners, traffic cameras, social media posts and other public sources. The platform’s AI processes this information and delivers geographically filtered alerts to newsroom staff, functioning as a digital news scanner that covers multiple markets simultaneously.

Unlike social media monitoring tools that track trending topics, Dataminr focuses on early detection of breaking news events. The platform performs trillions of daily computations across billions of inputs from more than 1 million unique public data sources, identifying news events minutes to hours before more traditional discovery methods.

For newsrooms covering multiple markets or providing regional coverage, Dataminr offers crucial early warning capabilities that extend beyond what reporters can monitor manually. 

Here’s how to get Dataminr running in your newsroom.

Step 1: Set up and pricing

Dataminr offers custom pricing based on organization size and coverage needs. Contact their news team for a demo and pricing discussion.

Your subscription typically includes:

• Unlimited user licenses
• Real-time breaking news alerts
• Geographic filtering capabilities
• Integration with existing newsroom tools

Implementation timeline:

• Initial setup takes approximately 1-2 hours
• Full customization and training: 1-2 weeks
• Time to proficiency: 2-4 weeks depending on newsroom size

Privacy tip: Review Dataminr’s data handling practices with your legal team, especially regarding how the platform processes social media content and maintains user privacy.

Step 2: Configure geographic and alert filtering

Set your coverage boundaries:

1. Define primary coverage areas by county, city clusters or regional boundaries
2. Add secondary markets for occasional coverage
3. Create separate filters for different desks or beats
4. Test initial settings with a 24-hour trial period before full implementation

Customize alert levels based on your needs:

• Flash alerts: Major national stories (less than one per day)
• Urgent alerts: Regional breaking news including crimes, accidents, weather events
• Standard alerts: All news events detected by the system

Pro tip: Start with urgent alerts only for your primary market, then expand coverage once your team adapts to the workflow.

Step 3: Choose your integration method

Configure delivery methods for your workflow:

Email integration:

• Alerts delivered directly to designated inboxes
• Better searchability for historical tips
• Easy forwarding to assignment desks

Web dashboard:

• Real-time monitoring during active news shifts
• Visual mapping of breaking events
• Less effective for searching past alerts

Team collaboration tools:

• Slack or Microsoft Teams integration for instant team notification
• Mobile push notifications for after-hours coverage

Step 4: Develop verification workflows

Create standard operating procedures for different alert types:

1. Government/official sources: May publish immediately with attribution
2. Social media sources: Require additional verification before use
3. Scanner traffic: Confirm with official channels before reporting
4. Traffic cameras: Use as starting point for further investigation

Establish clear protocols:

• Who monitors alerts during different shifts?
• What verification steps are required for each source type?
• How are alerts assigned to reporters?
• When do you publish preliminary information?

Is Dataminr right for your newsroom?

What’s your coverage model? Dataminr provides the most value when covering unfamiliar markets or providing regional/national coverage. Embedded local reporters with strong community sources may find less benefit from the platform.

Do you have capacity for real-time monitoring? The platform works best when someone can actively monitor alerts during news shifts rather than checking periodically.

How will you manage information overload? Even with filtering, Dataminr delivers high volumes of information. Plan how your newsroom will triage alerts effectively.

Choose Dataminr if you:

• Cover multiple markets or provide regional/national breaking news
• Need early warning for events in unfamiliar territories
• Have dedicated staff to monitor real-time alerts
• Can demonstrate ROI through faster breaking news coverage
• Want comprehensive monitoring beyond individual reporter capabilities
• Compete with newsrooms for breaking news dominance

Consider alternatives if you need:

• Social media trending analysis rather than breaking news detection
• Coverage for a small community where you have strong sources
• Budget-friendly options for very limited staff
• Lack capacity for real-time alert monitoring

Pro tips and known issues

Maximize your Dataminr investment:

Start with restrictive settings and expand gradually. 

Additional pro tips:

• Assign dedicated monitoring during peak news hours
• Create email filters to sort alerts by priority
• Use the mobile app for after-hours coverage
• Export weekly reports to track story origins
• Train weekend staff separately since they often handle more breaking news

Known limitations:

• High information volume can overwhelm smaller newsrooms
• Preliminary reports require significant verification
• Subscription costs may not be justified for newsrooms under five staff members

Alternatives

NewsWhip: Focuses on social media trending analysis rather than real-time breaking news alerts. Better suited for content optimization and audience engagement tracking than immediate news discovery.

Social News Desk: Even though it’s focused on being a centralized management tool for running multiple social media accounts, Social News Desk is also good at finding news on social media. It’s particularly powerful in markets where audiences and local officials are active on Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter). Social News Desk’s social listening features allow tool users to create a dashboard that instantly updates when news happens. (If you liked the tool CrowdTangle, RIP, Social News Desk’s listening features will feel very familiar.)

Read the Help Desk’s getting started guide on Social News Desk here.

Scanner apps and police monitors: Traditional approach offering direct access to emergency communications, but requires significant time investment and geographic limitations compared to Dataminr’s aggregated, AI-filtered approach.

• Category: Getting Started Guides
• Tag: AI, Dataminr