Jeff Leek at Simply Statistics has a great post that explains how Fox News presents data in a really tricky way.
A lot of the issue comes in the way the data is presented. While most of the time the data is grounded in fact, by skewing the axes, using the wrong kind of chart, or just changing where the points should be on the graph, Fox is able to change the way that the information is interpreted.
As one example, Leek points out this pie chart. When you add up the numbers, it exceeds 100 percent, making a pie chart a poor choice.
In this Fox News chart, the axis starts at 34%. When looked at it this way, it appears that taxes will be five times higher than they are now if the cuts expire. In reality, that isn't the case:
Here's one of the biggest instances of skewed results. Look at the values at each of the points:
Now, look at it like this:
By expanding the scope of the Y-axis and strangely changing the placement of a number of points, Fox News presented the unemployment rate as stagnant. Leeks points out that the BLS data contradicts that conclusion:
Here's one that makes it appear that welfare recipients are dramatically rising. In reality, the axis starts at 94 million, so the changes are much more subtle:
Not only is this graph somewhat skewed, the title isn't even accurate. Moreover, there's no Y-axis to show the difference:
Here's a chart provided by Leeks that shows the differences:
Add up the percentages:
You can see all of the charts and analysis at Simply Statistics >
Now See: Why, strangely enough, there's a positive expected value on a Powerball lottery ticket >
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