A census of statistics requirements at U.S. journalism programs and a model for a “statistics for journalism” course

Justin D. Martin

doi:10.1177/1077695816679054

A census of statistics requirements at U.S. journalism programs and a model for a “statistics for journalism” course

Justin D. Martin^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

NUQ Journalism Program

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This essay presents data from a census of statistics requirements and offerings at all 4-year journalism programs in the United States (N = 369) and proposes a model of a potential course in statistics for journalism majors. The author proposes that three philosophies underlie a statistics course for journalism students. Such a course should (a) represent a statistics course with journalism, not a journalism course seasoned with a few statistics; (b) encourage awareness of error and skepticism of omniscience of official figures; and (c) cultivate statistical enthusiasts, not formulae repositories. Findings report students in just one fifth of U.S. journalism programs are required to take statistics, and none of those programs offer a course within their own academic unit that fulfills a traditional statistics requirement.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	461-479
Number of pages	19
Journal	Journalism and Mass Communication Educator
Volume	72
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1077695816679054
State	Published - Nov 1 2017

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Keywords

Curriculum
Data
Journalism
Numeracy
Statistics
Undergraduate education

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Communication
Education

Cite this

Martin, J. D. (2017). A census of statistics requirements at U.S. journalism programs and a model for a “statistics for journalism” course. Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, 72(4), 461-479. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077695816679054

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10.1177/1077695816679054