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Renew Deal

(81,801 posts)
Fri Nov 6, 2020, 10:37 PM Nov 2020

I'm not comfortable with the role of the NYT needle in this election

The NYT needle is visual display of the projection of the vote margin in an election. The needle is how most of us knew early that Biden would lose Florida and NC. But the shock of the night was when the needle projected a Biden victory in GA with a 58-68% probability when he was down by several hundred thousand votes on election night. The needle completely and instantly changed the narrative of the race. This is a case of the NYT becoming the news.

The positive about the needle is that it was accurate. But I can see something like this being used to manipulate people, and possibly even elections in the future. People could feel cheated if the outcome doesn't match the projection. That can create a climate of conspiracies.

I think this is a journalism ethics question. Is it something that could be sent to an ombudsman?

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I'm not comfortable with the role of the NYT needle in this election (Original Post) Renew Deal Nov 2020 OP
It may also have prevented cheating Republican governors like Kemp MaryMagdaline Nov 2020 #1

MaryMagdaline

(6,849 posts)
1. It may also have prevented cheating Republican governors like Kemp
Fri Nov 6, 2020, 10:40 PM
Nov 2020

From daring to interfere. Having a spotlight on GA may have caused it to be counted correctly.

I get your point, though.

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