Sophie Chou

Data Journalist

The World

Sophie Chou is a Data Journalist at PRI.

Sophie is a data journalist with a background in research and computer science.

Before coming to PRI, she was the Google News Fellow at the Pew Research Center. There, she worked on a report to analyze the impact of media coverage of the Flint water crisis.

Sophie did her Master’s degree at the MIT Media Lab, where she used social media analysis and computational social science to look at how news stories spread on Twitter.

She has a passion for science and stories, in every combination.

She left PRI in 2018.

Harley-Davidson motorcycles on display at the company’s headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. An EPA penalty of $15 million for selling emissions defeat devices was decreased by $3 million under the Trump administration in December 2017.

Environmental prosecutions under Trump projected to be the lowest in two decades

Despite promises to "promote clean air and water," environmental prosecutions and penalties have drastically decreased during Trump’s first year.

Environmental prosecutions under Trump projected to be the lowest in two decades
Actress Meryl Streep (L) and the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Ai-jen Poo, at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.

Millions say #MeToo. But not everyone is heard equally.

Millions say #MeToo. But not everyone is heard equally.
(Left to right): Indira Marquez Robles, Dustin Henderson, Maria Geneva Reyes, Mwewa Mwange and Jasiel López (left to right) are recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Nearly 40 percent of DACA recipients are high school or college students. Now their future is in limbo.

Nearly 40 percent of DACA recipients are high school or college students. Now their future is in limbo.
A group of men wearing camouflage clothing and FBI vests stand next to an armored car outside the Mandalay Bay Hotel in the pre-dawn light.

There’s no evidence linking the Las Vegas attack to ISIS. So why did the group claim responsibility?

There’s no evidence linking the Las Vegas attack to ISIS. So why did the group claim responsibility?
An excerpt from Jomny Sun's book, "everyone’s a aliebn when ur a aliebn too."

How to speak like an aliebn — no, that's not a typo

How to speak like an aliebn — no, that's not a typo
Man holding up ID card for medical school

DACA recipients won’t go back into the shadows quietly

Julio Ramos just started medical school, but unless Congress passes laws to protect undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children, it’s unclear if he can finish his training. Or pay back the student loans he’s already taken out.

DACA recipients won’t go back into the shadows quietly
An Iraqi man holds a picture of victims of the Karrada suicide bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq on July 10, 2016, one week after the attack.

More than 75 percent of terrorist attacks in 2016 took place in just 10 countries

Three of every four terror attacks last year took place in Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Somalia, Turkey, Nigeria, Yemen or Syria, according to the latest data from the Global Terrorism Database.

More than 75 percent of terrorist attacks in 2016 took place in just 10 countries
Global Terrorism Database

What does a day in terrorism look like?

Terrorism is disproportionately concentrated in just a few places in the world. Last year, more than 75 percent of terrorist attacks took place in 10 countries.

What does a day in terrorism look like?
Members of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign react on the presentation of a banner referring to the kidnapped Chibok school girls, during a sit-out in Abuja, Nigeria May 18, 2016,

Terrorists launched fewer attacks in 2016. But they took twice as many hostages.

In 2016, there were 13,446 terror attacks — a 9 percent decrease from the previous year — but the number of victims kidnapped or held hostage nearly doubled.

Terrorists launched fewer attacks in 2016. But they took twice as many hostages.
An encryption message is seen on the WhatsApp application on an iPhone.

It’s not just your color printer that could betray you. Here are 5 other ways you’re being tracked.

Yellow dots are hidden on pages you print and geotagged information is encoded in every photo you take. Everything you do online leaves a trail of virtual breadcrumbs.

It’s not just your color printer that could betray you. Here are 5 other ways you’re being tracked.
A girl writes a message in chalk on the pavement in central Manchester, Britain.

Suicide attacks are rare in the West — but part of a growing global trend

Although suicide bombings grab headlines in the West, they comprise only .13 percent of all attacks globally in the last decade. They are, however, part of a predictable pattern, experts say.

Suicide attacks are rare in the West — but part of a growing global trend
Members of the Chinese community shout slogans during a protest at Place de la Bastille in Paris, France, March 30, 2017.

Chinese-French millennials protest police shooting — and the 'model minority' myth

After the lethal shooting of Liu Shaoyo, a Chinese man in Paris, an overlooked community in France finds its voice.

Chinese-French millennials protest police shooting — and the 'model minority' myth
A woman waits to be registered prior to a food distribution by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Thonyor, Leer state, South Sudan.

Drought doesn't cause famine. People do.

These days, hunger is a political issue spurred on by human conflict.

Drought doesn't cause famine. People do.
Donald Trump gives his speech to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 28.

Yes, Trump did sound 'presidential.' Here's the science that shows why.

Speech analysis shows Donald Trump's address to Congress to be pretty normal compared with other recent presidents. That's a departure from Trump's usual style.

Yes, Trump did sound 'presidential.' Here's the science that shows why.
A poll posted on USAPolitics.co, one of the fake news sites started by teenagers in Veles, Macedonia.

Macedonia is infamous for fake news. This woman is trying to combat it with real journalism.

Macedonia came under the spotlight for generating pro-Trump fake news during the US elections. But this Macedonian is doing everything she can to stop its spread.

Macedonia is infamous for fake news. This woman is trying to combat it with real journalism.