XTOWN turns all journalists into data journalists
Break news, tell richer stories, build reader trust.
-
An intuitive, easy-to-learn way to explore local datasets such as arrests, traffic crashes and public health.
-
Xtown makes it simple to compare data across time periods, neighborhoods and demographics. See how long your city takes to approve building permits or how DUI enforcement has changed since COVID.
-
Easily export your findings as charts, maps or tables or add valuable context to breaking news articles. Xtown also makes it simple to show readers your sources and methods, building trust.
XTOWN helps local newsrooms achieve scale.
Don’t just report, build products that resonate.
-
Create newsletters, articles and dashboards that respond to your reader’s location, automatically.
-
Our AI tools find potential stories in police and other government data, then tell your editors why it matters.
-
From newsletter strategy to your homepage, Xtown lets you serve readers the way you want and they need.
About Xtown
Xtown started with a question: How do we make local journalism for Los Angeles neighborhoods that don't have a news source?
Our answer was to send a weekly newsletter with one story, drawn from city data, that localizes to any of LA’s 114 neighborhoods, depending on where the reader is.
You can see our work at xtown.la.
In 2024 we spun Xtown out of USC Annenberg to bring our AI and data journalism tools to the rest of the journalism ecosystem.
Our goal at Xtown is simple: Give newsrooms the tools they need to do more local journalism without more cost.
We invite you to get in touch, try our tools and tell us what your newsroom needs.
askus@xtownmedia.com
Who we are
Gabe worked as a newspaper correspondent and editor for three decades, including 10 years at The Wall Street Journal, where he served as Los Angeles bureau chief, deputy Hong Kong bureau chief, and deputy Southern Europe bureau chief, based in Rome. He is currently a professor of professional practice at the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism.
Luciano is a computer scientist and Associate Director at the USC Integrated Media System Center where his research focuses on data analytics with applications in health, transportation and social media. He also teaches data visualization and develops educational games for various online programs.