'Reports that "Tesco sales hit a 20 year-low" AREN'T true' blog discussion

Aotearovas

Quite right Martin. The problem is that these stories tend to be put together by non-specialist journalists who have not had the benefit of a 'technical' education, so often don't even understand percentage calculations let alone financial gobbledy-gook. They will unthinkingly reproduce a press release or someone else's story, usually because they are so over-worked and stressed in these wondrous times that to properly question it would hold up the treadmill. Hence the error/distortion bounces around the journosphere and anyway, if Sky or the BBC say it is so then surely it must be OK? It's another version of the 'Emperor's New Clothes' and Martin is very good at being the questioning little boy!

nzseries1

I just believed the news articles! How naive am I!
I've only lived in this country six years so I had no idea that Tesco was much smaller 20 years ago and therefore such a headline couldn't be true.

Martin, you're 100% correct.

jamesd

You're entirely right. The headline writers used headlines that did not match the content of the story.

Mobeer

Saying their sales performance was bad, or saying their sales were weak is ok. Saying their sales were bad is misleading.

So at least some of the headlines are ok

Consumerist

jamesd wrote: »

You're entirely right. The headline writers used headlines that did not match the content of the story.

. . . and MSE reporters don't do that now, do they?

JulieGeorgiana

They do with all the time... whenever they do research into food, the newpapers report that the food is 'super' 'good' or 'bad' and twist the whole point of the study and lead to an overwhelming amount of conflicting information.

The NHS produces a document which busts the myths generated by the media, as they are constantly mis-representing studies.

If they do this with studies and food, why is it so suprising that they would do this with sales and other such things. It's to encourage us to read and buy!

They want our money as much as the greedy supermarkets do!

flossy_splodge

In a country with ever falling standards, if you're being pedantic Martin, please continue to be so.