Data journalism and the Y axis should start at zero myth

I like seeing someone debunk the work of Bloomberg, who you would expect to know better than to mess with statistics to create a sensational story, but the whole Y axis starting at zero argument is flawed.

The second issue with the author’s chart is that the y-axis doesn’t start at zero. Why does this matter? A chart that has truncated the y-axis tends to amplify changes.

There is a difference between using a data visualisation for emphasis and using statistics to mislead the reader.

Vox explains this way better than I can in the video below, but basically a journalists job is to find the top line. Find the information that is relevant to the reader and present it in a clear and concise manner.

Truncating the Y axis in this instance helps do just that.

The extra white space in your adjusted chart does not add value to the story.

Assuming that the reader actually looks at what is the starting figure on the Y axis is, where is the misrepresentation?