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Just for the record, I want to say that I love the headline atop the stock market story on the right. Not because the market is doing well, but because it says, simply, that stocks are up “3 percent.”

Not that the Dow Jones was up 322 points. Or the S&P was up 38 points. Or Nasdaq was up 100 points. None of which means a thing to non-experts. Just a nice, simple “3 percent.”

I’d like this to become the new standard for nonspecialist publications. On first reference, and in headlines, describe market ups and downs in percentage terms. Then provide the exact numbers later in the text. Everyone would get used to this really fast, and it would convey the rough magnitude of the change way better than raw numbers. Who’s with me?

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What’s independent journalism worth to you?

Our news will always be free to read, watch, and listen to online. But what is its value?

Unbiased reporting on the issues that billionaire-owned newsrooms won’t touch. Fearless research into the dark corners of government and corporations. Ferociously fact-checked news that focuses on the facts, and the facts alone.

It IS free for you and every reader, viewer, and listener to utilize. But it’s not free for our team to make. So, what’s it worth to you? Let us know by making a donation: Make a one-time donation today to support this work. Or make a monthly sustaining donation to help us plan for the future.

Whatever you choose, know that you’re supporting more independent, investigative journalism in a time when we need it most.

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