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
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
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)
Bergen, August 2013
2 Maija Metsä-Pauri
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
3 Maija Metsä-Pauri
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
4 Maija Metsä-Pauri
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
5 Maija Metsä-Pauri
http://tietotrenditblogi.stat.fi/miksi-ruuan-hinta-karkaa-
k%C3%A4sist%C3%A4/
Bergen, August 2013
6 Maija Metsä-Pauri
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
7 Maija Metsä-Pauri
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
8 Maija Metsä-Pauri
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
9 Maija Metsä-Pauri
…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
10 Maija Metsä-Pauri
More emphasis on quality instead of quantity
Otherwise there’s a danger that just the opposite
happens!
Bergen, August 2013
11 Maija Metsä-Pauri
…and passion for valuable statistics
Thank you!