Statistics

By Justin

I can't stand it when a statistic is used to inflate a problem. Instead of framing a problem or issue in 'real terms' we use a statistic to make it seem oh so much better or worse. No other place is this more apparant than in journalism. They have crazy important deadlines and the pressure to make a story must be enormous. Do you need an example?

Well lets start with this story from KCBD Newchannel 11 here in Lubbock. To see the full article go here. It is a story about OSHA warning employers and employees about the crazy hot heat and heat stroke. In that story they make the following statement:

"Last year nationwide more than 1,790 people became seriously ill from heat and more than 30 died."

This statement get me worked up, bad. First off "more than 30 people". Is that 31 or 3,890,903 people? You have a fairly exact number at 1,790, but not in the death number? Where did this number come from? Did KCBD research it, steal it from the 'heat death index' website, what? Does KCBD make it a habit to keep track of deaths nationwide caused by heat?

But more than the lack of sourse, the really irking thing to me is the use of a number to make this story important. Before we go any farther please know that I understand that heat related deaths and illness are 100% preventable. But what this bigger to me is if you put this number in context of the scope this article discusses, then a problem really doesn't exist. If the problem doesn't exist, then there is no need for this story. If there is no need for the story, then what is the ultimate need for the new organization as a whole. Lets break it down.

USA population: 308 million Source: US Census
USA working population: 121 milllion in 2008 (non farm) Source: US Census

So the percentage of working population affected by heat illness is:
(1,790 divded by 121 million *100) = .0014793%

So the percentage of deaths in the working populations is:
(30 divided by 121 million *100) = .000024793%

I see an epidemic on our hands...

More than anything I can't handle unnecessary exageration. This story loses nothing if it focuses on the real risks and concerns, the searing heat. So take heed cause 1 in 10 of my blog readers agrees with me.