Telling stories with data: FactCheckNI session at Global Fact 7

Posted on by Allan LEONARD

Telling stories with data: FactCheckNI session at Global Fact 7
by Allan LEONARD
29 June 2020

As part of the annual summit of the International Fact-Checking Network, FactCheckNI hosted “Telling Stories with Data” at Global Fact 7, an online session that explored the use of data in news and information presented to the public. I moderated the conversation between John Campbell (Business and Economics Editor at BBC Northern Ireland) and Niall O’Neill (statistician at the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)). The session aimed to impart an appreciation of the importance of the integrity of trustworthy official data sources and the benefits that this has for fact-checking organisations, through good working relationships with statistics agencies. Continue reading Telling stories with data: FactCheckNI session at Global Fact 7

Are COVID-19 deaths in Northern Ireland 50% higher than Ireland?

Posted on by FactCheckNI

A widely shared tweet by Gabriel Scally on Wednesday 22 April draws attention to an Irish Times article about the difference in relative COVID-19 death rates across the island of Ireland, and claims that “the death rate for #COVID19 deaths in hospital (and for all COVID deaths) is 50% higher in Northern Ireland”.

Continue reading Are COVID-19 deaths in Northern Ireland 50% higher than Ireland?

It’s all about the test: Counting COVID-19 deaths

Posted on by Allan LEONARD

It’s all about the test: Counting COVID-19 deaths
by Allan LEONARD for FactCheckNI
14 April 2020

UPDATED 20/4/2020

“The figures on deaths relate in almost all cases to patients who have died in hospital and who have tested positive for COVID-19. Slight differences in reporting in devolved administrations may mean that they include a small number of deaths outside hospital.” — Department of Health and Social Care (UK)

[This article is part of the COVID-19 Information Dissemination (COVID-19 ID) Project — a partnership between Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) and FactCheckNI. Its aim is to improve people’s health literacy about COVID-19 by providing accurate and up-to-date information which will increase knowledge, understanding and confidence and enable people to make good health decisions.]

Continue reading It’s all about the test: Counting COVID-19 deaths

Do families have to give permission for COVID-19 death statistics?

Posted on by FactCheckNI

CLAIM: The Department of Health (England) needs the consent of families to release information of deceased relatives.

CONCLUSION: INACCURATE. While there has been a change in the timing of reporting of official statistics regarding the impact of COVID-19, there is no suggestion that family consent has any role in the registration of deaths or their statistical reporting. In Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency has stated that all deaths are a matter of public record. Continue reading Do families have to give permission for COVID-19 death statistics?

Measuring the “climate” of identity: NILT and time-series surveys

Posted on by Dr Orna YOUNG

Measuring the “climate” of identity: NILT and time-series surveys
by Dr Orna YOUNG for FactCheckNI
26 June 2019

What is the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey?

The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (NILT) is a social attitudinal survey that was established in 1998 by Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University. It has been conducted annually since (with the exception of 2011, due to funding constraints). Continue reading Measuring the “climate” of identity: NILT and time-series surveys

Ensuring trustworthiness, quality and value in all our work

Posted on by Allan LEONARD

Ensuring trustworthiness, quality and value in all our work
by Allan LEONARD for FactCheckNI
12 April 2018

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) hosted an information seminar at Belfast City Hall, for staff from government organisations in Northern Ireland who have responsibility for statistics in their work (creating and/or applying). Continue reading Ensuring trustworthiness, quality and value in all our work