PUBA 744: Communicating Data for Public Impact
October 3-5, 2019 at the School of Government
John Quinterno, Adjunct Instructor / Principal, South by North Strategies, Ltd.
Over the past decade, the ways in which public administrators and policy analysts are expected to present data and conclusions have changed radically. The growing availability of raw public data, the increased availability of cheap and powerful analytical and presentation software, the ubiquity of mobile computing, the advent of social media, and the deepening scientific understanding of human visual perception and comprehension—all of these factors have altered how research should be presented to ensure that it resonates with civic leaders, journalists, and the public.
Today, professionals working in the broad public sector need to think carefully about how to communicate their findings, especially when trying to reach non-expert decision makers. While analysts must ground their work in sound research methods, they also must think deliberately about how to communicate concisely, clearly, and effectively in written documents, in oral presentations, and in electronic media.
This skills-based immersion course aims to expose MPA students to the emerging research related to the effective communication of public data, such as the data compiled by public statistical agencies like the US Census Bureau. Covered topics include how to develop clear messages, how to design effective visual elements like charts and tables, how to best format written documents, and how to deliver effective oral presentations of quantitative information.
There are no formal pre-requisites for this course, and no prior knowledge of specific analytical techniques or software packages is required.
