Data and Narrative in News Media: The Science of Communicating Evidence

Bringing together research from across media and psychology disciplines, this book provides an understanding of the impact of using qualitative and quantitative forms of evidence in the news. Drawing on previous studies with seemingly contradictory conclusions, the author proposes an integrative framework that explains the differential roles of data and narrative in evidence-based communication, as well as the potential for their combination. Bridging theory and practice, this book delves into the specific conditions and key factors influencing information processing, combining interdisciplinary scholarship from fields of media effects, persuasion, and cognitive psychology. It emphasizes the importance of incorporating numerical and story elements into journalism through scientific methods, underlining the effects on audience responses according to cognitive-experiential theory. Written accessibly and weaving in contemporary examples and data from around the world, this book expands our understanding of why certain qualitative and quantitative forms of evidence turn out to be (in)effective, translating these findings into take-away lessons to inform more thoughtful news writing and production. Data and Narrative in News Media is a versatile resource for researchers and scholars with an interest in media effects and the presentation of news.