{
  "id": "1995-may-uplink-update",
  "slug": "1995-may-uplink-update",
  "url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1995-may-uplink-update.html",
  "year": 1995,
  "month": "May",
  "monthNum": 5,
  "headline": "Uplink update",
  "kicker": "",
  "author_name": "",
  "author_title": "",
  "affiliation": "Uplink",
  "summary": "This article explores how journalists use statistical analysis and computer-assisted reporting to improve accuracy in covering stories, featuring an example of a young researcher analyzing basketball statistics and discussing how journalists can reduce errors through proper statistical methods.",
  "keywords": [
    "statistics",
    "journalism",
    "reporting"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Investigative Methods",
    "Data & Databases"
  ],
  "technologies": [
    "Internet"
  ],
  "full_text": "It's like the old Groucho Marx joke: Math is so easy a 12 year old can do it. Quick. Get me a 12 year old. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch did just that. In February, the newspaper recounted how Carrie Coughlin used statistics to figure out the home court advantage in Big Eight basketball. And she checked for significance. For journalists, statistics are one more way to better cover stories. \"Computer-assisted reporting gives greater access to greater volumes of information,\" Philip Meyer said. \"That means there is a greater capacity for making mistakes. By learning how to use statistics, we reduce the risk of getting it wrong.\" In this issue, Uplink offers stories so you get it right. Meanwhile, in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing, Nora Paul trolls the Internet for militia groups. Uplink also updates government access to electronic records.",
  "provenance": {
    "extracted_by": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "extracted_at": "2026-07-05",
    "verified": true
  },
  "similar": [
    {
      "slug": "1995-april-uplink-update",
      "score": 0.247
    },
    {
      "slug": "1996-june-oops-uplink-update",
      "score": 0.217
    },
    {
      "slug": "1998-september-also-see-lafleurs-article-on-mapping",
      "score": 0.211
    },
    {
      "slug": "1994-december-uplink-update",
      "score": 0.201
    },
    {
      "slug": "1996-april-thats-stats",
      "score": 0.188
    }
  ],
  "html_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1995-may-uplink-update.html",
  "json_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1995-may-uplink-update.json"
}