An assessment of the use of statistics by Ugandan newspapers: a case of the New Vision

Abstract

The study assessed the use of statistics by Ugandan newspapers using a case of The New Vision. Using a mixed methods and sequential explanatory design, the study employed qualitative content analysis and in-depth interviews to examine the use of statistics by The New Vision in its reporting of news; and to assess the challenges faced and opportunities obtained by The New Vision in its use of statistics in news reporting. The study adopted the Gatekeeping theory to understand the use of statistics by Uganda newspapers. Findings indicate that The New Vision published 935 stories with statistics during the analysis period of two years. These were divided between 403 and 532 stories in 2020 and 2021 respectively. The New Vision relied on textual format as the major data visualization technique in stories with statistics. The technique contributed 100% (n=403) for the year 2020 and 100% (n=532) for the year 2021 use of statistics in news reporting. Table/ Lists contributed 70.72% (n=285), Static Maps 69.48% (n=280), and Percentages 29.03% (n=117) in the year 2020. Conversely, Percentage contributed 59.77% (n=318), Table/ Lists 57.14% (n=304), and Static Maps 25.94% (n=139) in the year 2021. The study also found that the influence of the use of statistics in news cuts across factors, such as individual, media organisation, and societal factors. This study recommends that there is need for The New Vision to strengthen the in-house team of reporters and editors through continuous professional development courses as an effort to improve data visualisation skills in order to constantly enhance evidence based reporting of news and information. The effort and time spent on data analysis and visualising statistics should be remunerated.