Pink's Bottom Line on Media, Money and Sports
Anonymous sources, retirement savings and NFL point differential
I discuss the use of anonymous sources in news stories, retirement savings and more in today’s newsletter.
MEDIA: Anonymous Sources
Anonymous sources are generally fine to use in a news stories, but only in special cases, according to respondents of a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in late February and early March of this year.
Among those surveyed, 67% said it was acceptable to use anonymous sources only in those special situations, while 18% said said it was never acceptable and 15% said it was always ok to use them, according to that survey.
Pink's Bottom LineAs the country — and the media — become more polarized, the need for clear, objective and accurate news and information has never been greater.
Anonymous sources can be crucial to help illuminate and deliver that information, and they are often used only when there is no other alternative.
That’s when I think using anonymous sources is acceptable, particularly considering that important news stories might otherwise never be told.
MONEY: Retirement Savings
Saving for retirement looks like it’s being pushed to the back burner for many Americans due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey by FinanceBuzz, a personal finance information website and community.
Among those surveyed, 16% said that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, they have stopped saving altogether for retirement.
Another 11% say that they now contribute less toward retirement savings, according to this survey.
Pink's Bottom LineMany Americans have lost their jobs and simply can’t afford to contribute to their retirement accounts these days.
Those are trends, if they continue, that have major long-term implications for the US economy and for society as a whole.
As such, it is becoming even more critical for the US job market to recover quickly.
SPORTS: NFL Point Differential
The Tennessee Titans defeated the Buffalo Bills last night 42-16 in only the third game ever played on a Tuesday in NFL history.
The Titans’ 26-point win pushed their record to 4-0, and they have now outscored their opponents by a total of 32 points — the team’s point differential — through those four games.
It also means that Tennessee, in its first three games, only outscored its opponents by a total of six points.
In other words, the Titans won three very close games that they could easily have lost.
Pink's Bottom LineThe broad implication is that teams with the greatest positive point differentials should be among the league’s best.
Currently, in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens, with a point differential of 73 over 5 games, which means they are outscoring their opponents on average by more than 14 points a game, have the best point differential in their conference.
In the NFC, it’s the Green Bay Packers with the best point differential — 51 points over four games, which means the Packers outscore their opponents on average by nearly 13 points per contest.
As such, point differential indicates that we could be looking at a Ravens-Packers Super Bowl come February.
Jeremy Pink is former CEO of private-equity backed Broadcast Sports International where he led the company to a successful sale and exit during his tenure there. He is also a former CNBC television executive in New York, London and Singapore. Jeremy currently serves as an advisor, consultant or board member to companies in New York, London, Hong Kong and Dubai in the media, technology, sports and financial tech sectors.
The information contained in this communication is strictly for general informational and entertainment purposes and is not meant to be construed as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. This communication is not a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. I am not a financial advisor or offering professional advice of any kind. Users should not act upon the content or information found within this communication without first seeking professional advice appropriate for their individual situation. Decisions based on information contained in this communication are the sole responsibility of the user, and use of this communication and its contents constitutes an explicit understanding and acceptance of the foregoing disclaimers.