I see your point, but they're not even relying on 3rd party data. They're relying on 3rd party press releases. At the bare minimum, AP should have asked for the data behind each of those claims and cross referenced them against each other. Otherwise what value is this "journalism" adding here? I can go read a Mom's for Liberty press release if I wanted to hear unfact-checked bullshit.
I agree overall, and if I'm being cynical, media likes to portray a "fight" between different groups, that some conflict exists, even when there isnt any.
Instead of reporting the literal facts, they often write a narrative of battling groups, which is bolstered by differing statistics.
This undoubtedly gets way more clicks then otherwise, but once you start looking for it it's everywhere.
I see your point, but they're not even relying on 3rd party data. They're relying on 3rd party press releases. At the bare minimum, AP should have asked for the data behind each of those claims and cross referenced them against each other. Otherwise what value is this "journalism" adding here? I can go read a Mom's for Liberty press release if I wanted to hear unfact-checked bullshit.
I agree overall, and if I'm being cynical, media likes to portray a "fight" between different groups, that some conflict exists, even when there isnt any.
Instead of reporting the literal facts, they often write a narrative of battling groups, which is bolstered by differing statistics.
This undoubtedly gets way more clicks then otherwise, but once you start looking for it it's everywhere.