Sound reporting vital for consumers in this economy

Both stories were written by The Associated Press wire service, a cooperative that gathers news worldwide for print and electronic customers.

Over the decades, The AP earned a pretty favorable reputation for its just-the-facts approach. But The AP has had trouble covering the bazillion aspects and twists and turns of this economic recession.

When U.S. unemployment and under-employment are so high, when credit remains tight, and when mortgages continue to turn sour, why did The AP predict that the end of the recession is near? Because the wire service honed in on a few statistics that had shown improvements in the most recent reporting periods - stats that still showed declines but smaller declines than earlier.

The biggest challenge to journalists covering the economy is to figure out which stats are important.

In The Oregonian article, the Washington, D.C., AP focused mainly on the fact the gross domestic product in the spring quarter declined less than it had before. That kind of thing excites Wall Street analysts.

But to the mass of people who follow the news, key stats include: employment, joblessness, under-employment, inflation of prices, mortgage foreclosures and credit availability. The Oregonian's story admitted, "with unemployment aid claims stubbornly high, Americans may benefit little from a recovery."

The East Oregonian's article quoted Oregon economists saying that a "free fall" in joblessness had apparently stopped, even though Oregon was reporting the country's third highest unemployment rate. That's the nature of reporting on this economy: This stat might be improving, but those stats are still grim.

It is not good enough - not responsible journalism - to put heavy weight on what analysts and economists are saying.

Consumers need the best and most balanced reporting they can get on this economy.

Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board, comprised of Associate Publisher Kathryn Brown, General Manager Wendy DalPez, Managing Editor Skip Nichols, News Editor Daniel Wattenburger and Senior Reporter Dean Brickey. EO Publishing. Co. Board Chairman Mike Forrester and former EO Editor George Murdock also contribute editorial content. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian.