The New Precision Journalism

by Philip N. Meyer

The publication of ""Precision Journalism"" in 1973 established a new trend in journalism--the use by reporters of social science research techniques to increase the depth and accuracy of major... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0253206642
• ISBN13: 9780253206640
• Release Date: December 1991
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Length: 273 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Current version of a time-proven, pioneering, how-to.

This book is the 90's update of the classic text on the use of social-science methods, statistics and other advanced analytical techniques in journalist reporting. The first edition in the 1970s helped drive a constructive trend. Those who would use surveys, content analysis, field experiments, database analysis and other such methods to gather and evaluate information should use this book -- and others. It has long been a staple of graduate-level reporting courses such as one I took at Arkansas (LR) in 1980-81 and those I have helped teach (Ohio State, late 1980s) or taught (Roosevelt, Chicago-Schaumburg, 1990s).I am ordering a fresh copy for mark-up before teaching advanced reporting methods for the first time in 3 years.Yes, this work uses math. No, you need not have mastered college math. A calculator that can take square roots, and the rusty skills of high school algebra, will do. A calculator or computer database or spreadsheet program with basic stats functions will pay off if you do a lot of this stuff. Some of the principles can be applied with no math. As texts of this sort go, it is quite readable.John McClelland, associate professor of journalism Roosevelt University, Chicago and Schaumburg IL jmcclell@roosevelt.edu