Journalists can’t do everything, and it’s easy for media critics to enumerate all the things that modern reporters must be. I’m not even full of my own medicine: I’ve never taken a macroeconomics course, and I know that my reporting has at times been less substantive as a result.
But statistics is too pressing a global language for journalists to neglect. Statistically untrained journalists are watchdogs without olfactory cells; they’ll catch wrongdoing when it’s visible, but they lack the skill to sniff a sour deal.
Thanks for making me actually look forward to my journalism research class next term (99% stats and databases). It's important, and I'm going to need to remember that while mired in numbers!
#1 Posted by leilani, CJR on Mon 6 Dec 2010 at 04:34 PM
I took macroeconomics. Their model was ass. Still is. If you want insight, read Yves Smith's Econned instead.
#2 Posted by edward ericson jr., CJR on Tue 7 Dec 2010 at 11:25 AM
Im sorry but I have not found what I am looking for! On the google page it brings up the topic I need but when I click the link it is nothing like what it says...Sorry but it is the truth.
#3 Posted by GRRRRRRRRRRR, CJR on Thu 19 Jan 2012 at 11:18 AM