How stupid is the mainstream press?

FatherAbraham

I read in a Guardian article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/apr/23/falling-annuity-rates-cost-retirement) from yesterday about the rising cost of an annuity:

EU gender discrimination rules which came into force in December 2012 have also pushed down rates for female retirees.

The regulation in question actually improved rates for females (who tend to live longer). It was rates for males which fell in consequence. I suppose "distressed damsels" makes for a more sensational and politically-correct story than the truth.

Since this sort of "personal finance" article is where most of the population gets its understanding of financial products from, what hope is there?

Warmest regards,
FA

kidmugsy

Aw, be fair, pa: it's the bloody Grauniad, innit?

redbuzzard

That article just about makes sense, if you remove the sentence you have quoted, though it isn't easy to understand as it flits between gender equalisation and falling annuity rates.

I think the writer probably knows her onions. The problems are the dumbing down (even in the Grauniad!) and copy editing I think. I have done a few articles for trade publications and as often as not they have been badly edited and lost or mangled something.

And isn't it a universal experience that whenever you see an article on your own specialism or field of expertise, it's wrong?

grey_gym_sock

redbuzzard wrote: »

And isn't it a universal experience that whenever you see an article on your own specialism or field of expertise, it's wrong?

yes, but that's no excuse