Recognizing the Difference Between a Press Release and a News Report

Here’s an article praising Vistra Energy, the parent company of TXU Energy, a retail electricity provider serving residential and business customers in deregulated regions of Texas since 2002. 

To my amusement, it boldly announces, “Vistra has transformed its electricity generation portfolio from one that produced 70% of its output from coal to one that contributes less than 20% of its earnings from coal.”

Wow, if grades were given for misleading writing, this guy gets a solid B; the only defect is that it’s so obvious.  A meaningful comparison would have contrasted the production of energy from coal at one point to that at another, or the percentage of its earnings from coal at one point to that of another.  Obviously, the profit associated with all coal plants has fallen precipitously (which is why they’re going away).  TXU could have actually increased its coal energy production and seen a vast reduction in the earnings from these operations.

Yes, this is how dim-witted the average reader has become, and how vile the people who take advantage of their stupidity.