Using numbers accurately to present a story
That doesn't provide complete context when considering a loan. The total interest paid over the 15-year loan would be about $52,000 compared with $116,000 over the life of the 30-year loan. The "total paid" comparison would be about $178,000 (15 years) to nearly $270,000 (30 years). N...
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| Published in | The Bismarck tribune |
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| Main Author | |
| Format | Newspaper Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
Bismarck, ND
Bismarck Tribune
02.03.2008
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| Online Access | Get full text |
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| Summary: | That doesn't provide complete context when considering a loan. The total interest paid over the 15-year loan would be about $52,000 compared with $116,000 over the life of the 30-year loan. The "total paid" comparison would be about $178,000 (15 years) to nearly $270,000 (30 years). Nonetheless, journalists and newspapers can be criticized for writing stories that include data that isn't complimentary to a business or agency offering a product or service. Contrary to what some suggest, there is no agenda or secret meetings being held by reporters to conspire. We don't dream of exposing gas station owners or the petroleum business when writing about the high price of gasoline, but the data - prices - are necessary to tell the story. There are hundreds of stories that can be uncovered and reported from public budgets, and there's a crude story that ends with this line: "There's a pony in there somewhere." That's how journalists often feel when they begin data searches. |
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