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By the Numbers

34

Percent of stories with unnamed sources in 1958 that used only vague language such as “a reliable source”

Percent of stories that did so in 2008

50

Percent of front-page stories that used anonymous sources in 1978

25

Percent that did so in 2008

3.9

Percent rise in employee productivity at U.S. corporations in 2010

1.5

Percent drop in per person labor costs at U.S. corporations in 2010

800

Times more likely that the son of a major league baseball player will become a pro than one who isn’t

195,700

Number of subscribers lost by eight of the nine largest subscription TV companies from April to June

7,600

Pounds of coal ash that the S.S. Badger ferry dumps into Lake Michigan each day in its travels between Manitowoc, Wi. and Ludington, Mich.

Sources: Poynters.com; Freakonomics.com; Forbes.com; Associated Press; Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel