How the Housing Report Changed From Initial E-Mail to Spun Story

Photo of Tom Blumer.
By Tom Blumer (Bio | Archive)
November 20, 2007 - 19:06 ET

Here's what a CNN e-mail I received said when the news was first released:

HousingStarts1107

Here's how the headline at the home page turned out mid-morning:

HousingPermitsDown1107

Note how the bad news came first, with emphasis.

Here's how the article appeared early in the afternoon:

CNNmoneyHouseStarts1107

Note how, given time, Old Media decided that the single-family news was more important than the news relating to housing starts in general. This is the first time in following these news reports for a couple of years that I've seen apartments broken out from single-family homes. Somebody had to look pretty hard for that.

The word "surprise," which described housing starts in the e-mail, does not appear in the actual article.

It's clear that the good news that came out in the original e-mail this morning was too much to handle. I guess that wouldn't be consistent with the "Mortgage Meltdown" theme that CNN is clearly wedded to.

Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.


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Missing information

November 20, 2007 - 20:24 ET by saw the light

How could they have forgot, "Women and minorities hardest hit?"

"There is a tendency for the world to say to America, 'the big problems of the world are yours, you go and sort them out,' and then to worry when America wants to sort them out." - Tony Blair

Up Is Down, Down Is Up

November 21, 2007 - 01:41 ET by Intellectual Honesty

With the housing boom that marched along for a record period cooling down, it means that a seller's market is now a buyer's market, right Libs?  That means signifigant savings for your average family, right Libs? Less construction means less carbon admitted into the atmosphere, right Libs?

This is really all about BDS, anything to spin an issue for the Dems, right Libs????!!!!!

}}---> and ne'er the twain

November 21, 2007 - 01:53 ET by Cool Arrow

Seems Libs would be happy with lowering home prices.

Seems to me only people getting hurt are they who:

  • Are expecting a profit rather than a home.
  • Didn't front a down payment in the 1st place meaning it's nothing more than stiffing a lease.