Reading the News
Why vote share and seat share can tell different election stories
Vote share and seat share measure different results. Learn how to read an election chart without treating votes cast and seats won as the same quantity.
CONTEXT FOR EVERYDAY CURIOSITY
Reading the News
Reading the News
An opinion poll’s fieldwork dates matter more than its publication day
Place a poll’s interviews on the calendar before interpreting its headline, especially when an important event happened between fieldwork and publication.
Reading the News
Two Trends Moving Together Do Not Yet Explain Each Other
Read a story about two changing trends by checking the timeline, possible shared causes and the evidence needed for a causal claim.
Reading the News
An Exit Poll Surveys Voters; It Does Not Count the Ballots
Exit polls estimate patterns from surveyed voters. Learn why their numbers differ from ballot counts and why early versions can change.
Reading the News
Equal Steps on a Logarithmic Chart Represent Equal Ratios
On a logarithmic chart, equally spaced marks can represent multiplication rather than addition. Read the axis before comparing slopes.
Reading the News
A Record High Depends on Where the Record Starts
Read a record-high headline by checking the starting year, measurement and coverage, then distinguish the reported record from a claim about all history.
Reading the News
A Forecast in a News Story Is Not an Observed Result
Distinguish a forecast, an estimate and an observed result when reading a news claim, then check the date and assumptions behind the number.
Reading the News
A Byline and a Dateline Tell You Different Things About a News Report
Read the writer credit and location line separately, then trace what a news report actually says about where its information came from.
Reading the News
Three News Reports May Still Lead Back to One Original Source
Several headlines may repeat one wire report or announcement. Trace the reporting trail before counting independent confirmation.