The New Precision Journalism (A Midland Book)

By Philip N. Meyer

Book Overview

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 stories. That book was updated in 1978 but has been out print for several years. The basic principles are the same in the 1990's, but the technology has changed dramatically. ""The New Precision Journalism"" shows journalists and students of journalism how to use the new technology to analyze data and provide more precise information in easier-to-understand form. It covers the history of journalism in the scientific tradition, various elements and techniques of data analysis, the use of statistics, computers, surveys, and field experiments, database applications, how to do an election survey, and the politics of precision journalism. This is an important resource for working journalists and an indispensable text for all journalism majors.

• 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