Read Between the Lines: Decoding Charts and Graphs in the News
I understand now that news graphs and charts are not only objective representations of data but rather, they are an expression of human design, which includes particular decisions, goals, and even biases. Even when the underlying data is constant, minor changes like the style of chart utilized, the date chosen, or the scale of an axis can significantly alter how a story appears. I now know how to examine dramatic visuals, check labels, and seek for information that may not appear in a graph as opposed to taking it at face value. It made me a more skeptical news viewer, more cautious when analyzing information, and less inclined to being influenced by misleading pictures that are intended to convince rather than inform.