Public data is the foundation of regional accountability

Residents need timely, local data to understand rain, voter rolls, roads and public services. A statewide average can hide district-level shortages; a citywide announcement can conceal neighbourhood delays. Clear dashboards and correction channels help people test what officials say.nnThe Northern Review will identify the source and date of figures, explain revisions and distinguish a forecast from a result.nn Readers need to know the area covered by a statistic, its date and how it was collected. The Northern Review will explain revisions and distinguish a forecast from an observed result.nn Clear source notes also help readers understand whether a number is a forecast, a final count or a revised estimate. The Northern Review will show those distinctions in every regional data story.