Monday June 24 at 11:00-15:00
This hands-on workshop will explore, demonstrate and offer a hands-on approach to statistical and open data with the focus on developing the ability and skills to tell stories with data. This workshop, produced by Statistics Finland, will tackle the topic by using international data published by Eurostat with the help of statisticians who will assist interpreting and presenting the data used in the workshop.
The use of statistical data in the work of science journalists will also be discussed: how and to what extent are the tools of data journalism and visualisation already used in the age of open knowledge and data?
Markku Huttunen and Maija Metsä-Pauri (Statistics Finland):
Opening remarks with a short introduction to the schedule
Jussi Melkas:
Discussion of the general questions before getting hands-on
How to define the problem in order to use statistics? How to find the best possible data? What the data can tell and what it can’t? How to cope with the shortages in data and what you should tell about it to your readers? How to describe statistical results?
Antti Poikola:
Hands-on workshop: Practical introduction to data driven journalism
With free and easy-to-use tools, statistical data can be used as fuel for journalism. In this practical session participants learn basic data wrangling skills and tools (Google spreadsheet and Google Fusion Tables). This is a perfect first step to get started with data journalism.
For inspiration, watch the Guardian Data blog’s Simon Rogers’ presentation video http://bambuser.com/v/2990343 (starting at 23:30)
Presenting the stories and final discussion (everyone participates)
How to solve the contradictions of the storytelling and good statistical reporting? – Discussion based on the stories produced in the workshop
How could the National Statistical Institutes collaborate more successfully with science journalists? – Sharing experiences and ideas
Requirements:
Basic level skills in spreadsheet software (Excel or similar)
Google account
Own computer
Workshop is organised by Statistics Finland. The maximum number of participants is 20.
Producers:
Markku Huttunen, Development Manager, www.stat.fi
Maija Metsä-Pauri, Editor-in-Chief, http://tietotrendit.stat.fi
Biographies of the hosts:
Jussi Melkas has been working in the field of statistical dissemination (developing, writing, teaching and managing) for more than 25 years at Statistics Finland – now active as a freelancer. His latest production (2013) comprises, among other things, ABC-course for the use of statistics(http://tilastokoulu.stat.fi/?page_type=ketusivu&course_id=tkoulu_tlkt), Tilastot käyttöön – tilastojen yhteiskunta (The society of statistics), with Jussi Simpura, Gaudeamus, Helsinki.
Antti Poikola (Open Knowledge Finland [1] and Otavan Opisto[2]) is active in Open Science and Open Data, movements in Finland and Europe. He was the main author for the “Public data – an introduction to opening the information resources” -guidebook [3] (Poikola, Kola, Hintikka 2010) which was published by the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications. He has been teaching data journalism tools for journalists and he co-hosts the http://datajournalismi.fi/ blog.
[1] http://fi.okfn.org/
[2] http://www.otavanopisto.fi/
[3] http://www.julkinendata.fi/
Assisting hosts (Statistics Finland):
Jaana Huhta, Planner, Employment Statistics
Jussi Arpalahti, IT Applications Architect, Open Data Specialist
