Melody Kramer writes about how journalists are interacting and learning from each other when attending conferences isn’t an option. While email can achieve some connection, creating Slack channels like @ModernoJourno or Google Hangouts leaves room for more informal interaction and reduces stress. “Having a chat room or regular Hangout feels more intimate than a Facebook group, and allows for more detailed conversation than the 140 characters allowed on Twitter,” writes Kramer.

+ Design tips: Value microinteractions: “You can take what is usually dull and forgotten and make it something enjoyable and memorable, and thus increase adoption and customer loyalty.” (DesignRive); How to sift and prioritize audience feedback (Intercom)

+ A quick guide to free and inexpensive data tools (Global Investigative Journalism Network)

+ Be more judicious with math lingo, for clarity: avoid “calculus,” “exponentially,” unless you mean it (New York Times)