Local Development Tracker Toolkit

3. What you will need

Here is a quick rundown of the tools, skills and intangibles you will need to build your tracker.

Accounts and programs

The following is a list of all the accounts and programs you will need to create your database, set up your site and publish it. These are also included and linked in the following guide sections when you will actually need to use them.

Skills and areas of knowledge

This toolkit is designed to be used by someone with some familiarity with these knowledge areas, though you certainly don’t need to be an expert.

Other needs from within or outside your newsroom

The next section includes a brief list of questions you may want to consider before getting started on this project.

How to use this guide
Initial questions to ask

Table of contents

  1. About this guide
  2. How to use this guide
  3. What you will need
  4. Initial questions to ask
  5. Starting with the data
  6. Organizing your data: Airtable basics
  7. Setting up your Airtable base
  8. Using the Projects table
  9. Using the Contact Us table
  10. Using the Tips table
  11. Setting up the site
  12. Customizing the site
  13. Publishing the site
  14. Managing your development tracker
  15. Harnessing public engagement and support
  16. Launching your tracker for the public
  17. Getting in touch with us