2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
COMM3315 Statistics and Data for Journalists
20 creditsClass Size: 48
Module manager: Dr Jairo Lugo-Ocando
Email: j.lugo-ocando@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2017/18
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
Students undertaking this module will acquire theoretical understanding of and practical skills in the use statistics in news gathering and reporting. Students will learn about some of the key concepts in statistics and look closely at how they are typically used in news media reporting. After completing this module, the students will be able to read statistics to a level in which they can spot inaccuracies and mistakes in stories containing them, make sense of them in the context of a news story. Students will also acquire the basic theoretical understanding and practical skills necessary to use statistics in news reporting. They will learn create spreadsheets and use them to undertake statistical analysis, interpret statistical information in a range of sources and to employ methods of data visualisation to communicate statistical information to news media audiences. The module does not assume that students will have high level competence in maths.Objectives
Students will acquire the basic theoretical understanding and practical skills in relation to the use statistics and data in news reporting. They will learn about some of the key concepts in statistics and data analysis and how they apply to news gathering and news production. After completing this module, the students will be able to read statistics to a level in which they can spot inaccuracies and mistakes in stories, make sense of what statistics mean in the context of a news story and also be able to use statistics to create or contextualise their own news stories. The module does not assume that students will have high level competence in maths
Learning outcomes
At the end of the module students should be able to:
1. Understand key statistical concepts and explain how they are typically used in news reporting
2. Critically analyse the use of statistics and data in news reporting – including forms of data visualisation
3. Confidently use relevant statistical and other methods of data analysis in the context of journalistic research
4. Confidently communicate statistical information or other relevant data in the context of a journalistic report.
Skills outcomes
Basic numeracy and statistical analysis, desk research, understanding official documents, news writing, news production, recording and editing and use of spreadsheets
Syllabus
The module will cover basic statistical concepts and processes, introduce students to the use of digital tools for statistical analysis and data visualisation. Students will also cover the use of statistics in a range of news contexts and will engage with contemporary research on the use of statistics in journalism.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Workshop | 11 | 2.00 | 22.00 |
| Lecture | 11 | 1.00 | 11.00 |
| Private study hours | 167.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 33.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
Private study should be dedicated to (times are indicative):Weekly preparation for lectures (reading) and workshops (statistical exercises): 60 hours
Research and production of investigative news story 60 hours
Essay preparation: 47 hours
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Monitoring will be carried out by means of formative and summative assessment, These aim at improving the performance of students by having their work critically evaluated by members of staff and peers. It will allow staff to measure students’ achievements and learning outcomes both at point of delivery as well as during classes.Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Essay | 1 x 2,500 - 3,000 word essay | 40.00 |
| Written Work | A long form multimedia investigative news story 2,000 - 2,500 words | 60.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 26/04/2017
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD