In a recently published EUROSTAT publication, the authors demand innovative forms of communication from public statistics in order not to lose their socially important role. Among other things, they demand ‘…. to tell stories close to the people; to create communities around specific themes; to develop among citizens the ability to read the data and … Continue reading Easy-to-understand Statistics for the Public
Communication of statistics in times of fake news In a recent paper Emanuele Baldacci, (Director, Eurostat) and Felicia Pelagalli, (President, InnovaFiducia) deal with the ‘challenges for official statistics of changes in the information market spurred by network technology, data revolution and changes in information consumers’ behaviours’ (p.3) Three scenarios The status-quo or bad scenario: ‘Information will continue to … Continue reading The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Eurostat’s biennial scientific conference on New Techniques and Technologies for Statistics (NTTS) is over, a labyrinth of a website is online and tons of documents are somewhere published. CBS Corporate nieuws summarizes the important trends discussed: 1) New data sources and the consequences 2) The importance of a proactive communication 3) Big Data and algorithms in official statistics … Continue reading Corporate nieuws
Twitter reminded me that there’s #NTTS2017 going on, Eurostat’s biennial scientific conference on New Techniques and Technologies for Statistics (NTTS). The opening session also focused on official statistics and its actual and future role in a world of data deluge and alt-facts. What will be Official Statistics in 30 years? In Diego Kuonen’s presentation and discussion on ‘Big … Continue reading There is no New Thing under the Sun – Yes and No
postfaktisch ‘Fake-news’ and ‘post-truth’ (postfaktisch) are the words dominating today many discussions about truth in communication. ' ... in post-truth [post] has a meaning more like ‘belonging to a time in which the specified concept [truth] has become unimportant or irrelevant’' (https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/press/news/2016/11/15/WOTY-16). False information or even lies are not new in the information business. And therefore many, … Continue reading Post Post-Truth
1996 On the 2nd of September 1996, Statistics Switzerland published its brand-new website, www.bfs.admin.ch. It was one of the first (if not the first) of the Swiss Administration (www.admin.ch). In three languages… … and already with quite rich structure and content. The Wayback Machine … … shows the developments since 1996 https://archive.org/web/. 1996: Handmade with Frontpage … Continue reading 20 Years Ago
Digitally disrupted data production “The collection of statistics has been digitally disrupted, along with everything else, and there are important questions about collection methods and whether or not “big data” genuinely offers promise for a giant leap forward in the productivity of official statistics.” This statement in Financial Times’ edition of August 20th, 2015 deals … Continue reading Disrupting Dissemination – From Print to Bots
On June 20th, 2016 the moment arrived to unveil the new Atlas of Switzerland (AoS): Simone Niggli-Luder (orienteering athlete and multiple world champion), Sarah Springman (Rector of the ETH Zurich), Marc Chardonnens (Director of the Federal Office for the Environment). (Foto AG) AoS Version 4 The new Atlas of Switzerland AoS is (since 2000) already … Continue reading AoS: The new Atlas of Switzerland … and more
They all use statistics … in the media, in politics, in sports. But they mostly forget that statistics, especially official statistics, are made by professionals in a quite demanding, time- and resource-consuming process. The WO/MAN-IN-THE-MIDDLE, the professionals, providing information and knowledge from facts remain hidden (despite Googles’ statement that statistician will be ‘the sexy job in … Continue reading Attention please!
October 20th is the day of Official Statistics. It’s the day to highlight the importance of reliable, independent and high-quality numbers. Numbers that help to make good, evidence-based decisions. This year “Better data, better lives” is the theme of the World Statistics Day selected by the United Nations General Assembly. https://worldstatisticsday.org/ Many countries also celebrate this … Continue reading Today – Statsday
