Data Journalism. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lewis, Norman P.; McAdams, Mindy; Stalph, Florian
• Other Names: Steyn Elanie guest-editor.; Goodman Robyn S. guest-editor.; Geertsema-Sligh Margaretha guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journalism & mass communication educator. Volume 75:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 16
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: computational journalism -- data journalism -- journalism education; Communication -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States -- Periodicals; 070.07
• DOI: 10.1177/1077695820904971
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-6958

Abstract

This syndicate offers four recommendations to help educators adjust curricula to accommodate the rapid integration of data into journalism. First, instruction in numeracy and basic descriptive statistics must be required as either modules in existing courses or as separate offerings. Second, students should be taught to avoid mistakes in interpreting and writing about data in both reporting and visual classes. Third, ethics courses should discuss data as a transparency tool that poses distinctive dilemmas. Fourth, computational thinking, or how to dissect and solve problems like a computer does, can be incorporated into existing classes that teach logic.