Cherry-Picking
Selecting only data that supports a predetermined conclusion
Definition
Cherry-picking is the propaganda technique of selecting specific data points, quotes, examples, or time periods that support a predetermined narrative while ignoring the broader body of evidence that tells a different story. It creates a technically true but fundamentally misleading picture of reality.
How It Works in Media
Outlets select a narrow time frame, a single statistic, or a specific dataset that supports their angle while ignoring the larger trend. Crime coverage might cite a one-month spike while ignoring a five-year decline. Economic coverage might highlight job losses in one sector while ignoring gains across the rest of the economy.
Quote mining is a form of cherry-picking: extracting a sentence from a speech, study, or document that appears to support a narrative when the full context says something different.
Geographic or demographic cherry-picking selects data from a specific region, group, or institution that tells one story while the national or global data tells another.
Real-World Example
An outlet reports 'Violent Crime Surges 15% in Major Cities' based on a single quarter's data from selected metropolitan areas. The full dataset shows violent crime is down 8% year-over-year nationally, and the quarter chosen was compared against an unusually low baseline. Every number in the article is technically accurate, but the conclusion — that violent crime is surging — is misleading.
Cherry-picking is powerful because every individual fact is verifiable and true. You cannot debunk it the way you debunk a lie. The manipulation is in what is excluded, not what is included. This makes it one of the hardest propaganda techniques to identify without doing your own research.
How to Spot It
- Ask: what time frame is being used? Is it cherry-picked for effect?
- Check if the data represents the full picture or a carefully selected subset.
- Look for missing context: year-over-year vs month-over-month, national vs local, absolute vs percentage.
- Verify quotes by finding the full original source — look for missing context before and after.
- Ask: if I included all the available data, would this story's conclusion hold up?
Why It Matters
Cherry-picking is one of the most insidious propaganda techniques because it hides behind technically accurate facts. It is how media manufactures trends that do not exist, crises that are not crises, and consensus that is not consensus. The only defense is to always ask what data is missing from the story — and to be willing to look it up yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cherry-picking in media?
Cherry-picking in media is the practice of selecting specific data points, statistics, quotes, or time periods that support a predetermined narrative while ignoring the broader body of evidence. Every individual fact may be accurate, but the overall picture is misleading because relevant context and contradicting data are excluded.
How can I tell if a news story is cherry-picking data?
Check the time frame being used — is it unusually narrow or compared against an unusual baseline? Look for whether national or comprehensive data is available but not cited. Verify quotes by finding the full source. Ask whether the same conclusion would hold if all available data were included. Cross-reference with other outlets covering the same data.