The Role of Statistics in Modern Journalism

Statistics can be defined as the method of collection and analysis of data in such a way as to minimize any uncertainty in the conclusion drawn from the data so as to be able to assess the degree of such uncertainty. It could be observed from the above definition that statistical analysis, error could arise but statisticians need to minimize such errors so as to be able to achieve a desirable result.
Also statistics can be said to be; a branch of mathematics that deals with the collection, organization, and analysis of numerical data and with which such problems as experiment design and decision making.
In its most common usage, statistic means a collection of numerical facts or data. Some common event of that phenomenon that can be interpreted into statistics are: batting averages, games won or lost. In business, the common examples of statistical information are closing price for share on the stock exchange. Statistical information can also be figures of births, deaths marriages, divorces and contents of publications listing population and economic data.
Although it is a powerful tool for analyzing numerical data, statistical application is widely use in all field of human discipline that is why it was referred to as “jack of all trade”. We apply statistics to physical science, biological and medical sciences, statistics guides researchers in determining which experimental findings are significant enough to demand further attention and the physician uses statistics to access the effectiveness of a particular treatment.
The role of statistics in sciences cannot be ignored, especially in psychology, sociology, economics and journalism.
Journalism is a discipline which entails writing about events that are of interest to people. Journalism, especially in newspapers, is also regarded by many as the "first rough draft of history" because journalists produce news articles to tight deadlines. This affects how readers may perceive those events in the immediate