Learning Python

Python is one of the most popular programming languages for data journalists and hacktivists, and it is useful for scraping websites as well as cleaning, analyzing and visualizing data. Here are some resources for learning to code in Python.

A Byte of Python is an online book dedicated to the basics of Python. It is targeted at those with little to no experience with the language. It also comes with a GitHub repository with exercises.

Datajournalism.com offers this introductory Python tutorial for journalists using Jupyter Notebook taught by Dutch data journalist Winny de Jong.

Coding for journalist is another introduction to coding and the Python programming language for journalists. It is designed for people who have some grounding in data journalism already and experience with spreadsheets and databases.

First Python Notebook is a step-by-step guide to python designed for beginners by Los Angeles Times editor and long-time data journalism Ben Welsh.

Google’s Python Class is a written introduction to basic Python, with instructions on how to set up Python and hands-on exercises.

Learnpython.org has a set of written tutorials with interactive exercises that can be completed online in Python Shell, without downloading Python or a text editor. The lessons cover more topics than Google’s.

Learn Python 3 the Hard Way by Zed Shaw is an introduction to coding with Python. If purchased directly from the author’s website, the book comes with tutorial videos. (Purchase required)