Research Article

Testing data literacy: Numeracy, statistical literacy, and sociological knowledge among journalists in Estonia and Turkey

Ragne Kõuts-Klemm 1 * , Ayşen Yalman 2, Mehmet Arif Arık 2, Liis Auväärt 1
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1 Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu, Tartu, ESTONIA2 Department of Journalism, Akdeniz University, Antalya, TURKEY* Corresponding Author
Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 16(2), April 2026, e202631, https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/18574
Published: 20 May 2026
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ABSTRACT

International comparative studies show that adults’ data literacy is considerably lower than that of younger generations. Many older adults do not engage in continuing education and instead depend on journalists, functioning as knowledge brokers, to interpret and contextualize data. The news media have traditionally carried both an informative and educational function for their audiences. This article examines journalists’ own data literacy, given their potential to shape the public’s capacity to navigate data-rich environments. The study innovates by distinguishing data literacy as comprising numeracy, statistical literacy, and sociological data knowledge, and tests data literacy across various journalistic contexts. Drawing on a data literacy test conducted among journalists in Estonia and Turkey (respectively 10 and 20 interviews), the study identifies notable gaps in these three data literacy components. Whereas general math skills of journalists align with the numeracy level of the general population, knowledge of statistics and sociological data depends more on the particular educational contexts. The study reveals the necessity of additional data training for journalists to respond to the challenges facing in datafying societies. The study argues for targeted educational initiatives to strengthen data literacy among journalists and the wider population.
Keywords: data literacy, journalism, Estonia, Turkey

CITATION (APA)

Kõuts-Klemm, R., Yalman, A., Arif Arık, M., & Auväärt, L. (2026). Testing data literacy: Numeracy, statistical literacy, and sociological knowledge among journalists in Estonia and Turkey. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 16(2), e202631. https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/18574

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