How is this news?

So it's not illegal for one country's media to give predicted poll results about another country's elections during the vote? Gosh, you do surprise me. </sarcasm> I still don't see what makes this a news story, frankly. It might have been more interesting if they'd said they were going to call Ohio or another "swing state" that would make a difference to the outcome, but California was 59.1% vs 38.6%, a massive gap. Romney didn't bother trying to win California.

There was no doubt in my mind, as reviewer, that it was of interest; glaringly obvious, tbh. Evidently others find it of interest. It's odd you can't see the relevance that others can see, and truthfully even odder that you can't see it after Laura's remarks above. But, people think differently; it's just how things are.

Some countries prohibit publication of polling predictions from a certain time before an election onwards, others don't. Even when there is no prohibition, as in the UK, the TV channels will not "call" the result until the moment the polls shut. So far, so good. But I'm not aware of any country (country A) that tries to prohibit pundits in country B publishing polling predictions about country A, nor any country B that that prohibits pre-emptive psephological prognostications about country A. That much I hope is glaringly obvious.

So "Australian TV channel predicts part of US election" is not really news, even if it wouldn't be allowed to do so for an Australian election. Does it make a difference that it did so while the poll was in progress? No, because it chose California, and perhaps only Michelle Obama was more likely to vote for Obama than California was. Now if a US channel had called a swing state early, or called something and got it wrong, or if an Australian channel had called a swing state early, that's interesting. This isn't. It's not remotely comparable Bush v Gore, or "Dewey wins", since there was utterly no risk of a mistake here. BBC news programmes have been saying for weeks which were the key battleground states and which were the ones in the candidates' respective pockets. California was never a battleground. The ABC isn't going to win any awards for this brave prediction. Has any other news outlet covered the story?

I can think of things that could have made the article stronger. I can see the fascinating issue underlying this, and the article would be stronger if it brought that issue out more clearly; indeed, my ability to see it probably weakened my effectiveness when reviewing, by distracting me from asking for greater clarity on that point before publication.

But you might want to consider your own approach to this. Can you see a fundamental difference between my criticisms (self- and otherwise), and yours? I do review after review, turning things down and trying to find ways to provide helpful feedback while doing so; perhaps I forget what it's like not to think in terms of providing useful feedback. I encourage you, though, to think in those terms. I look for and try to describe what could be done better; what are you looking for, and what do you think you come across as looking for?

Well, I suppose I could have sugar-coated the criticism of "not newsworthy" more, but I thought Wikinews liked getting to the point as quickly as possible! Having said that, being told in terms that the problem is with me because I can't see the glaringly obvious interest of the fascinating issue in this doesn't fill my heart with joy and gladness either. This isn't about me, though, however odd my thinking might be in your eyes (and those of Mrs Bencherlite, I'm sure). It's not about you, either, although I know you work very hard here, and I merely pass through from time to time to check my watchlist / recent changes (where I see proof of your many labours) and sometimes end up making minor corrections to things on the main page - but your interest in, and time for, Wikinews is rather different to mine.

Sugar coating isn't what I'm talking about.

That's too laconic. I'll try to do a little better.

You're tending, in this thread, to oversimplify things. The alternative to sugar-coating isn't destructive criticism, which is, unfortunately, how you came across (and I responded too readily to the negative tone). And it isn't necessary to choose one aspect of the situation that is the only one that could be improved. Wikinewsies (and people in general) should never stop striving to improve. I've been noting potentials for improvement on several fronts here; the article, my review technique, my discussion technique, and your... er. I won't say "discussion technique" because that's too narrow. Your approach to the whole situation. Not just how you express yourself, but the the questions you ask yourself that lead you to choose what to say, before how to say it ever comes up. (Did I mention I'm not advocating sugar-coating? :-)

Except they did not call Ohio four hours before the polls closed in Ohio. They called California quite explictly. They also subsequently called Texas for Romney and a few other states before they closed. (Which they did not state four hours out that they had called Texas for Romoney. I believe they waited until the first polling stations closed in on the east coast before doing that. At a time when USA networks had zero-zero, they had something like 100 eletorcal college votes already shown on their map.) The states that were tighter they called later. In fact, USA networks were calling states before the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was calling the close races as they wanted to wait to be sure they were a bit more accurate. Colorado I think they called about 15 minutes after the USA networks.

If for some reason there had been a majoe screw up in the polling, which is possible if you look at Gore v Bush, it would have made national news over here. Also, there are broader issues that the Australian courts have been looking at that might have implications for such coverage. There used to be media blackouts for fair trial guarentees. Thus, a court case in Victoria, they could publish news stories about in New South Wales but not in Victoria. (Underbelly is an Australian television show that had such restrictions.) My understanding is the courts are beginning to think more nationally about these things because the internet means the sharing of news is not limited to a local geagraphic area. Taken broadly: Australian coverage of this topic, given the right social media audience, could have potentially surpressed the Romney vote in California and have the carry on effect of changing the results on the local level for local races. That is why USA networks do not report on who a state has gone for before the polls have closed.

Could this have been explained better? Yes, but I attempted to get it published prior to the polls closing in California.