The American Statistical Association’s Excellence in Statistical Reporting Award recognizes media professionals for their presentation of the science of statistics and its role in public life. During the 2024 Joint Statistical Meetings in Portland, Oregon, this summer, Harry Stevens of The Washington Post was honored with this award for his Climate Lab story series—which covers environmental change in a clear, personalized, transparent, and reproducible way.
Joining Practical Significance co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein, Stevens says he writes about compelling climate trends and their effect on the natural world, presenting the data in an “accessible and hopefully cool-looking way.” As he discusses what drew him to data journalism and how it’s evolved, he explains his approach to navigating the sea of complex data available today, focusing on identifying truly significant stories. He also talks about the software he relies on for data collection, analysis, and “cool” visualization and takes out his crystal ball to look into the future of journalism and the impact of artificial intelligence.
This episode is essential listening—relevant, timely, and profoundly insightful. And you won’t want to miss Ron’s Top 10, in which he offers the “Top Ten Concepts That Should Be Named After Me.”
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