In this digital age of social media and a myriad of media outlets, news and information is always at our fingertips. However, every media organization is biased in some shape or form, as the information or sources used in any given story may be misleading. Because news headlines have such a strong influence on the way we think, feel, and act and can even affect our decision-making, it is crucial that your information come from a trusted, unbiased, and data-driven source, such as ITR Economics.
Negativity Bias in News
Headlines are crafted not only to summarize a story, but also to attract attention, clicks, and comments. In a news story recently highlighted in By the Numbers™, host Lyndsay Wornham and ITR Economist Lauren Saidel-Baker discussed a study showing that negative headlines were more popular among readers, as readers seem to be more drawn to the negative aspects of a story.
Media outlets are, of course, aware of these statistics and often focus on the negativity around a subject in order to garner more views and interaction.
Getting Your Team on the Same Page
We often hear from clients that the insights and information we provide helps their respective teams come to a consensus when business planning and decision-making.
People tend to have their favorite news sources, and the information does not often align with other popular sources. Rather than having a team of executives use conflicting information to plead their case, it makes more sense to equip them with the data-driven information we provide.
When your team follows the same data, insights, and forecasts, it is much easier to collectively reach accurate conclusions, driven by the data, to propel your business into the future.
“We have some pretty strong personalities in that room, and we all want to do the right thing.... All of our experiences and knowledge are what has made our company successful, and by adding ITR Economics into our toolbox, we have a core rally point. ITR Economics brings commonality to those discussions. You've given us a foundation – a foundational tool that we all can rally around and then go to it.” – Ben Winter, Vice President/Business Development at Transfer Flow
Finding the Facts Behind the Headlines
In 2024, misleading information is rampant. This being an election year only adds to the volume of polarized misinformation. In this environment, businesses run the risk of making the wrong decisions based on inaccurate insights.
Our show By the Numbers was created to help businesses remain focused on what the data is saying. Each week, we look at the most popular news headlines and discuss the information presented in each article. Additionally, we discuss how the hard data may contradict some of the information presented in each article.
A subscription to By the Numbers is available through ITR onDemand or bundled with our Insider™ membership through Insider Plus™.
A free preview of the show is available every week on our YouTube channel, so be sure to watch some videos there before subscribing!