Three point three five million dollars Reduced to One point nine million dollars 71% DISCOUNT! — Australian Financial Review, 21 - 22 May, 2011

Welcome to Media Watch. I'm Jonathan Holmes.

We're always warning on this program that when you see a statistic or a percentage in the newspaper, beware! But surely the Australian Financial Review can do its sums?

Alas...

This weekend edition of the Fin Review featured

The Great Winter Home Sale There are bargains all around the country as property sellers drop their prices... — Australian Financial Review, 21 - 22 May, 2011

Turn to page 21 for some examples...That house in New South Wales's Kangaroo Valley, for instance

71% Discount — Australian Financial Review, 21 - 22 May, 2011

No actually, that's a

43% Discount

How about Mount Glorious, Queensland?

Two point two million dollars reduced to one point six seven million dollars 31% discount — Australian Financial Review, 21 - 22 May, 2011

Sorry, no, that's a...

24% discount

Bondi Beach, New South Wales?

32% Discount — Australian Financial Review, 21 - 22 May, 2011

Whoops!

24% Discount

Hampton Victoria?

29% Discount — Australian Financial Review, 21 - 22 May, 2011

Wrong again!

22% Discount

Eight percentages. All of them wrong, and duly corrected - in rather small print - two days later.

We're told that in most states that sort of sum is taught in Years 7 and 8. And besides, these days there's this great invention called a calculator...