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Activity Number: 325
Type: Invited
Date/Time: Tuesday, August 2, 2016 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
Sponsor: ASA
Abstract #321852 View Presentation
Title: Data Journalism and Statistical Expertise: An Urgent Need for Writers, Bloggers, and Journalists to Be Statistically Savvy
Author(s): Regina Nuzzo* and Alberto Cairo* and Mark Hansen* and Carl Bialik* and Katherine Hobson*
Companies: Gallaudet University and University of Miami and David and Helen Gurley Brown Institute for Media Innovation/Columbia University and FiveThirtyEight.com and Freelance Health and Science Writer
Keywords:
Abstract:

Recent headlines and news shows have urgently warned the public about the Zika virus outbreak, dietary risks, violent crime and drug abuse rates, and economic disaster. Widely available data is leading to new ways of framing investigating stories, increasing the role of data journalism. Media handling of data and scientific stories is critical to both our individual lives and to honest public discourse. Journalists need and want to know about the strengths and limits of statistics, and statisticians play an essential role.

This panel will broadly address how we (as scientists, writers, journalists, and statisticians) can communicate using statistical language and ideas. How does the need for statistical expertise arise for journalists? In what ways do journalists wish they could talk to statisticians? How do visual representations of data frame a narrative while staying faithful to the original data? How can statisticians collaborate in the process of creating narratives and improving public conversations?

STATS.org aims to support statistically savvy reporting and communication and has joint support from the American Statistical Association and Sense About Science USA.


Authors who are presenting talks have a * after their name.

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