Statistical ethics in information analysis presented in communication media

Abstract

Some information provided by the media is based on qualitative or quantitative data variables derived from government reports, scientific research, polling and research institutions or companies. The exact interpretation of results plays a key role in communicating the information, so that the journalist should have a basic statistical literacy to perform their work ethically and professionally. This quantitative formation is reduced in some media professionals and consequently generate errors in presenting results graphically, in tables or by using summary measures of data. It is noteworthy that in some cases, these errors are generated in the process of final editing and printing is not the product of the author, in other cases the result properly occurs, but the way the data were collected is unknown and evidence information bias. This paper presents an aspect of analysis and reflection, where the information has a wide dilemma from different perspectives of analysis and interpretation; aspects that can be organized and valued using the numeric level, but always leaving a minimum of two (2) prospects consonant with the news information. Finally, in this study we conclude that always be a minimum of two (2) ways to see the information and the news media informed quantitatively from a statistical point of view.