Dealing With Misuse Of Statistical Information Within ESS by The Media Numbers are like people; torture them enough and they'll tell you anything 1

Media 2

Types of Misinterpretation Knowledge: using incomparable definitions, sources, different methodologies... On purpose: deliberately misinterpreting the information. Attacking statistical information, NSI´s & ESS “In war you can only be killed once but in politics, many times” (Winston Churchill) 3 3

How to deal? Prevent Ignorance Reactions to Misinterpreting Seminars, Press conferences, Briefings: Explaining Statistics/Methodologies/new products... Reactions to Misinterpreting NSI´s have to be proactive with the media and respond with subsequent clarifications or corrections when they publish inaccurate data or misperceptions about the organization or its statistical production. 4

Principle 1.7 Code of Practice of the ES The statistical authority, when appropriate, comments publicly on statistical issues, including criticisms and misuses of official statistics. 5 5

Principle 4 of UN Statistical Commission The statistical agencies are entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics 6 6

Real case of misuse of statistical information Spanish leading economic newspaper “ Brussels corrects INE and stands unemployment rate at 19.3%”. INE took actions: Sending a letter to the editor with clarifications 7 7

A problem of misunderstanding of unemployment statistics Clarifications: A problem of misunderstanding of unemployment statistics Labour Force Survey (different sources) Quarterly Monthly Raw data Seasonally adjusted 8 8

How to avoid that risk again? Results: The newspaper didn't release it as INE would like to be done, and publish “INE sparked controversy” How to avoid that risk again? 9 9

Misuse of Official Statistics Damages: • The Organization (NSI) • The Country Statistical System • The Credibility of the ESS  10 10

Principle 10 of UN Statistical Commission Bilateral and multilateral cooperation in statistics contributes to the improvement of systems of official statistics in all countries 11 11

COOPERATION IN COMMUNICATION SPONSORSHIP tries to enhance COOPERATION IN COMMUNICATION improving VISIBILITY IMAGE CREDIBILITY USE STATISTICS ESS 12 12

Reaction to Misuse of the Media Target Reaction to Misuse of the Media Common Strategy Eurostat + NSIs ESS framework 13 13

What to do? If the Misuse Affects NSI’s, Eurostat & ESS Data, Credibility or Reputation Send a common letter to the media with relevant clarifications for publication Create a special section on the website Publish the letters to the editor in NSIs and Eurostat websites 14 14

Benefits • Boost the image of the ESS as a net of agencies which work in close Cooperation • Improve the credibility on official statistics among users: The ESS reacts strongly against misunderstandings (Coordination) • Increase the visibility of the NSI among the media and the users 15 15

Network of press officers • Established in 2010 as a result of the Sponsorship on Communication • Aim: facilitate coordination and common actions in communication by ESS • It is an informal group • Plan to meet once per year • Report regularly to the DWG. 16 16

Network of press officers Actions: • common ESS press realese for the World Statistics Day • develop a protocol on misuse of statistical data 17 17

International Examples • ABS-Australian Bureau of Statistics • ONS- UK Office for National Statistics • Statistics Canada • ISTAT-Italian Statistics Institute • Statistics Denmark 18 18 18

ABS-Australian Bureau of Statistics In “News & Media” “ABS responses to media articles” 19

ONS- UK Office for National Statistics In “Newsroom” section “letters to the press “ 20

ONS- UK Office for National Statistics In “Newsroom” section “letters to the press “ 21

Canada • Canada 22

ISTAT- • ISTAT 23

Statistics Denmark http://www.dst.dk/pukora/epub/upload/15295/profi.pdf “We actively correct any misunderstandings or misuse of our statistics in the various media”.  http://unstats.un.org/unsd/dnss/docviewer.aspx?docID=168#start  “As soon as Statistics Denmark becomes aware of erroneous or misconstrued interpretation of our figures by the news media, we respond in a prompt and consistent manner. We respond in similar manner, when our figures are used in contexts, where credit is not given to Statistics Denmark…. “ 24

A statistician can have his head in an oven and Thank you for your attention Maria Jesus Vinuesa mjvinuesa@ine.es A statistician can have his head in an oven and his feet in ice, and he will say that on average, he feels fine. 25