Math 4 Journalists

Don't let yourself get bamboozled by numbers — or those who would misuse numbers to mislead. In this session, we visit the most common statistical and arithmetic mistakes journalists make in their copy. If you're challenged by numbers, this session is for you.

This page also includes links to several tools and explainers that make calculations much easier on those who need mathematic backup.

Host: Jean Dubail

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EXPLAINERS

• Statistics Every Writer Should Know (maybe the best single explainer)

Also worth looking at:

• Percents and percentages

• A useful look at how data gets misused

• Why averages are often wrong

• 5 key things to know about the margin of error in election polls (excellent Pew explainer)

• Why the term ‘statistical tie’ is misleading

CALCULATORS

• Percentage calculator including decrease/increase

• Percentage decrease/increase only

• Mean/median/mode calculator

• Margins of error, sample sizes and confidence levels

• Inflation calculator (useful if you’re trying to figure out how much today’s dollar would buy in previous years, or how much a certain amount from the past would be worth today)