Making Data Meaningful
A new guide for bringing statistics to life
Geneva, 20 January 2006 - The UNECE today released a practical tool
for helping managers, statisticians and media relations officers, from statistical
agencies, bring statistics to life throughthe use of effective writing techniques.
Making Data Meaningful: A guide to writing stories about numbers is
packed with valuable tips for preparing texts, tables, graphics and maps, whilst
respecting the principles of impartiality.
It was prepared by a team of experts in statistical dissemination and communications
from national statistical offices around the world, in cooperation with the UNECE
secretariat.
Team members pooled their expertise to help anyone who writes about numbers
to make their data more meaningful to the public. The guide is directed particularly
at individuals from statistical agencies who write texts that are targeted at
the media.
Making Data Meaningful points out that numbers don’t “talk”,
but they should communicate a message, effectively and clearly. The guide addresses
key aspects of writing about data, including the importance of finding a storyline,
what constitutes a statistical story, how to write a statistical story in journalistic
style and how to make the data “stick”. It makes clear the necessity for independent
and unbiased releases that avoid policy‑prescriptive comments.
The electronic version contains a number of examples of well-written statistical
stories provided by various national statistical agencies.
Making Data Meaningful is a practical set of advice for anyone
involved in communicating official statistics to the public. It is available online
or in print. Copies can be obtained free of charge by visiting:
For more information please contact:
Ms. Jessica Gardner
Statistical Division
United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41(0)22 917 20 84
Fax: +41(0)22 917 00 40
E-mail: [email protected]
Ref: ECE/STAT/06/P01