![]() For instance, instead of reporting that tuition at a local college increased 100%, say it doubled. When covering a story based heavily on numbers, look for ways to eliminate some numbers without sacrificing meaning or context. “A reporter might have done it for years and not realized what they were saying is wrong.”ģ. “Part of the problem is, oftentimes, there’s not someone in the newsroom who’s spotting ,” she explains. In this scenario, the diagnosis rate jumped 400%, or five-fold.īecause this type of error is common, LaFleur encourages journalists to double check percentage-change figures in government reports and other documents - including news stories from journalists at the same news outlet. If a local county health department reports that its percentage of children diagnosed with autism increased from 1% in 1981 to 5% in 2021, it’s accurate to say the diagnosis rate rose 4 percentage points over that period. “If you’re comparing two percentages, it’s percentage points,” says LaFleur. When you add or subtract percentages - for example, when you subtract the percentage of children diagnosed with autism in 1981 from the percentage diagnosed in 2021 - describe the result using percentage points. Be extra cautious when comparing percentages because this is where many people make mistakes. It’s worth noting that Associated Press style calls for using the symbol for “percent” in news stories but writing out “percentage point.”Ģ. For instance, there’s a 27 percentage-point difference between 17% and 44%. When comparing percentages, use “percentage points” to describe the difference between them. While you can do the math yourself with these step-by-step instructions, it’s easy to find a percentage change calculator online. This year, they budgeted $38 million.īased on that information, we can say funding for the traffic safety program increased almost 27% from 2021 to 2022. We use “percent” to describe how much a number has changed in relation to a previous number.Īs an example, let’s say state legislators set aside $30 million to fund a new traffic safety program in 2021. Use “percentage point” to indicate the amount of the change. Keep in mind the “percent change” is the rate of change. ![]() Together, we came up with four tips to help journalists master these key mathematical concepts.ġ. That’s why we created this tip sheet, with LaFleur’s help. She also teaches data journalism at American University. “Percentage change and percentage-point change get mixed up all the time,” says Jennifer LaFleur, a senior editor at The Center for Public Integrity who has taught classes and workshops on using statistics in news stories for more than a decade. Before you can do that, though, you need to know the difference between “percent change” and “percentage-point change.” When you’re reporting on changes in numbers such as state funding, crime rates and opinion poll results, it’s important to tell audiences how much a number has risen or fallen over time. ![]() OctoPercent change versus percentage-point change: What’s the difference? 4 tips for avoiding math errorsīy Denise-Marie Ordway, The Journalist's Resource October 5, 2022 Multiply the decimal number by 100 (0.Percent change versus percentage-point change: What’s the difference? 4 tips for avoiding math errorsīy Denise-Marie Ordway, The Journalist's Resource This gives us the decimal number (0.5) Step 3 - Multiply Subtract the new number from the original number (60 - 40 = 20)ĭivide the decrease amount by the new number (20 / 40 = 0.5) If something drops in number such as the amount of goods you have left, this calculation allows you to measure using percentages how much the decrease is.Īs an example we will calculate what the percent decrease from 60 to 40 is. Multiply the decimal number by 100 (0.75 * 100 = 75%) Resultįind the percentage decrease from one number to another ![]() This gives us the decimal number (0.75) Step 3- Multiply This gives us the decrease amount (30) Step 2 - Divideĭivide the decrease amount by the new number (30 / 40 = 0.75) Subtract the original number from the new number (70 - 40 = 30) This calculation allows you to measure how much the increase is using percentages.Īs an example we will calculate what the percent increase from 40 to 70 is. Lots of things go up in number from what you earn, to prices and even scores in a game. Find the percentage increase from one number to another
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