Statistical storytelling and quality in the age of open data

1. Statistical storytelling and quality
in the age of open data
Bergen, 14-16 August, 2013
Sesjon 4: Kommunikation til brukeren
Maija Metsä-Pauri, Statistics Finland

2. About the authors of the paper
 Ms Kirsti Ahlqvist
 D.Pol.Sc (Economic and
social history)
 Senior Researcher,
Population and Social
Statistics
 Editor, Social Statistics
Review
 kirsti.ahlqvist@stat.fi
 Ms Maija Metsä-Pauri
 MSSc (Political science)
 Editor-in-chief,
Tieto&trendit (Facts and
Trends) -periodical, Project
manager for renewing the
website
 Active in piloting social
media (blog)
 maija.metsa-pauri@stat.fi
Bergen, August 2013 2Maija Metsä-Pauri

3. What’s happening around us…and fast?
 Towards evidence-based decision-making -> quality and
understanding of statistical data matters!
 Changing user needs -> relevance of statistical concepts
 Digitalisation, going mobile, social media, “media in
transition” –> effects on dissemination and communication
 The big challenges of Big Data -> Huge impact on official
statistics
 Open data and emerging data journalism, appealing data
vizualisations -> Reassessing our role?
Bergen, August 2013 3Maija Metsä-Pauri

4. From dissemination to communication
 Communication as a crucial part of all activities and as an
objective
 Agile monitoring different user groups and changing data
needs
 Improving of the analytical approach and quality in all
communication activities
 Use of new presentation tools (e.g. dynamic animations,
interactive applications) when needed
 New collaboration possibilities (e.g. in the field of data
journalism)
Bergen, August 2013 4Maija Metsä-Pauri

5. Tieto&trendit (Facts and Trends)
Towards interactive communication with our readers
- a new website and a blog launched in February 2013
http://tietotrendit.stat.fi
Bergen, August 2013 5Maija Metsä-Pauri

6. http://tietotrenditblogi.stat.fi/miksi-ruuan-hinta-karkaa-
k%C3%A4sist%C3%A4/
Bergen, August 2013 6Maija Metsä-Pauri

7. Hyvinvointikatsaus, Social Statistics Review
http://tilastokeskus.fi/tup/hyvinvointikatsaus/index.html
 a thematic publication
within social statistics
 four times per year in print
and partially on the web
 one expert seminar per
year – a fruitful live
discussion with the
research community
Bergen, August 2013 7Maija Metsä-Pauri

8. New inspiring openings
In June 2013 Statistics Finland participated in the World Conference of
Science Journalists by producing a workshop on data journalism in
practice. (Photo: Markku Huttunen)
http://wcsj2013.org/data-journalism-open-data-exploring-interpreting-
presenting-open-data/
Bergen, August 2013 8Maija Metsä-Pauri

9. What lies ahead of us?
 Goal-oriented and controlled implementation of web
publishing, quality cannot suffer
 Recognising and analysing topical phenomena that are
relevant and influential for our time (often requires cross-
statistical examination)
 Development of diversified knowledge (phenomenon and
methodological knowledge, communication knowledge,
innovative methods of team work…)
Bergen, August 2013 9Maija Metsä-Pauri

10. …and what does it require
 Statisticians need to be active as tellers of statistical stories
and critical assessors of the stories presented elsewhere
(particularly if they are false)
 Our role in increasing data journalism is assessed and our
vision sharpened
 Collaboration and experimenting in data vizualisation (if its
valuable for the story)
Bergen, August 2013 10Maija Metsä-Pauri

11.  More emphasis on quality instead of quantity
 Otherwise there’s a danger that just the opposite
happens!
Bergen, August 2013 11Maija Metsä-Pauri

12. …and passion for valuable statistics 
Thank you!