Brace yourselves, reporters! The slew of end-of-year lists is coming, and this time they’re bringing end-of-decade lists with them. Get ready.
I’m going to kick things off with:
This was actually the last tool I reviewed, but Otter is such a stunner it’s getting included. Auto-transcribe hundreds of minutes of audio, mostly accurately, and for free.
New year resolution: tighten up your online security. HaveIBeenPwned finds out where, and how much, your info has been leaked, and notifies you when it happens again. With bonus security tips!
This tool isn’t exactly a stunner, but it was such a hit with readers that I thought I’d include it. MapChecking calculates how many people an area can hold, and lets you estimate crowd sizes. Timely.
If you’ve found yourself outgrowing Google Sheets – too many rows, too many people, too much going on – Airtable is the tool for you. It’s more of a database than a spreadsheet, but still has cute, colorful, clicky buttons.
You might already have a Google Alert set for your name (admit it), but Mention searches news, social media, forums and more. Stay on top of your own byline as well as topics and things you’re interested in.
We still have one more TFR coming up this year, but in the name of holidaze, let’s do something fun instead:
What was a tool you found exciting or useful back in 2010? Reply to this email and I’ll include it in a decade-end roundup.
And if you’re looking for more, check out the Best Tools for Reporters of 2018.