… The Oscars are tricky to predict for a number of reasons, the main one being that — compared to election forecasting or sports prognostications — it’s very difficult to get relevant data; the awards are determined by the views of a small, tight-knit group of voters. No one polls […] Read more »
Can you measure Oscar best picture nominees with politics?
When Americans sit down to watch the Academy Awards Sunday night, the movie they root for to win the night’s biggest prize could have something to do with their politics. And the people who come on stage to accept the golden statuette? They have their political preferences too. CONT. Colby […] Read more »
Where ‘American Sniper’ Most Dominates Facebook Chatter
… As tens of millions of Americans get set to tune into the 87th Academy Awards on Sunday night, data from Facebook mapped by The Wall Street Journal find remarkable splits on which films are generating conversation across the country — and people’s tastes, in many ways, follow the familiar […] Read more »
The ‘new’ news
… Much is being written and will be written about Jon Stewart. References to a Time survey in which respondents named him the most credible anchor in news are found in several articles already. Unfortunately, that survey was more of an on-line popularity contest, akin to what one sees in […] Read more »
Why Movie ‘Facts’ Prevail
This year’s Oscar nominees for best picture include four films based on true stories …. Each film has been criticized for factual inaccuracy. … You might think: Does it really matter? Can’t we keep the film world separate from the real world? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Studies show that […] Read more »
How Jon Stewart’s Departure Leaves Left in the Lurch
A major piece of news hit the 2016 presidential race this week, and it had nothing to with the still-nascent campaigns. It was the news that Jon Stewart is leaving “The Daily Show.” Mr. Stewart’s departure from his Comedy Central show, as well as the recent parting of Stephen Colbert […] Read more »