"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts - for support rather than illumination." -Andrew Lang
Now, you don't want to be accused of that, right? Learning how to correctly find, interpret, and use statistics for illuminated reporting is one of the most challenging of all journalistic tasks.
The creative and proper use of databases and statistics can help us move, as godfather of precision journalism, Phil Meyer, says, "from event reporting, to putting the event into context."
Event coverage says, "There was a car accident at 3rd and Maple." Context journalism will go on to say, "This is the thirteenth accident at that intersection in the past six months."
Thorough context journalism will go even further to say, "This is the third most dangerous intersection in the city." And investigative journalism will find out why. Statistics and analysis of databases will be the fuel for this kind of journalism.
But there is a danger. As British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, in a quote attributed to him in Mark Twain's memoirs, said, there are three kinds of lies, "lies, damn lies and statistics." The use of statistics for context setting, "truth-telling" and reality checking in this age of easily accessed data, and misinformation, is a challenge and an opportunity for reporters. This column will give you some places to hunt for statistics on the Internet, some guides you can read on how to interpret statistics and some resources for locating experts who can help you understand the numbers you crunch yourself.
Looking for statistics on the net
I hate reinventing the wheel, and there has already been a great one created on this topic by information consultant Aggi Raeder (aggi@netcom.com) in the September 1996 (page 16 Searcher magazine at http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/srchrtop.htm).
She lists meta-sites, and then breaks down statistics sources into the subject categories of Agriculture, Banking, Business, Crime, Economics, Education, Energy, Government, Health, International, Local Government, Politics, and Population. The article itself isn't on the net, but the information about how to order reprints of the article is.
One of the sites she lists at the top as an example of a great meta-site compilation of the sites which are compilations of sites) for statistical information are Larry Schankman's pages. Schankman, a librarian at Mansfield University's Pennsylvania Library, has two pages, both of which should be given medals for organization, thoroughness and description of the resources he links to.
Business and Economic Numeric Data http://www.clark.net/pub/lschank/web/ecostats.html From health care expenditures, to housing starts, to lottery funds by State, this page lists all manner of statistical resources from credible sources. Be especially sure to check out his "Library Guides Series: Statistical Resources" at http://www.clark.net/pub/lschank/web/govstats.html The site is broken down by categories to help you find web sites and books and reports that are not on the web. Electronic Data Dissemination of Census Publications
http://www.clark.net/pub/lschank/web/cendoc.html
He takes the mother of all statistics sources, the U.S. Census Bureau, and links to its resources, with clear explanations and descriptions of what you will find.
These pages are fascinating to read. Just looking at the types of statistics that are gathered can get story ideas flowing. Check these pages out, bookmark them, then send a note of thanks to Schankman (lschank@clark.net) for his great work.
Guides for using statistics
Statistics Every Writer Should Know at http://nilesonline.com/stats/ is the website every writer should bookmark. Robert Niles, Rocky Mountain News webmaster and former reporter, has put together the resource guide for understanding statistics using the language and framework of reporting. Read it all and you'll be much further along in understanding the basics.
Got those numbers, but don't know what they really mean? Subject specialists spend years learning how to interpret those numbers. You need some help as you move from one subject to another in the course of your reporting. Check into the Reporting Tools area of The Foundation for American Communications' website for journalists at http://www.facsnet.org/report_tools/main.html
FACS Guides and Primers, and News and Numbers are great backgrounders on understanding the numbers behind the news. Click on the "Covering Business" link and get an explanation of reading financial statements and doing financial analysis.
*Research Methods Resources from the College of Education at Arizona State University at http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~behrens/links to an incredible array of resources about statistical analysis.
The Statistical Instruction Internet Palette (SIIP) includes the Data Gallery with samples of data displayed in different ways and the Equation Gallery that gives you various formulas for statistics (i.e. - click on "variance" and you will get a formula, plus an in-depth explanation of what it means).
Experts explain the numbers
Sometimes the numbers aren't enough. You have to understand their importance.
St. Petersburg Times researcher Kitty Bennett has pulled together an experts and sources directories, topped with a link to ProfNet's Expert Database at http://time.vyne.com/profnet/ped/eg.acgi
She has found university and think tank expert directories and listed them for you on the Special Libraries Association/NewsDiv website at http://sunsite.unc.edu/slanews/internet/experts.html Nora Paul can be reached at (813) 821-9494, or send email to npaul@poynter.org