How accurately do quantitative graphics in the news media convey data? Eight quantitative graphics that seemed to violate theoretical principles of accuracy of perception were selected as test stimuli. The same data presented in the media graphics were represented as simple bars and pies, which were used as controls. Five out of the eight test graphs were perceived less accurately than the controls. However, the surprise finding was that two of the test graphs were perceived as accurately as their controls. These findings indicate that some of the principles of graph-making that are held as conventional wisdom should be reevaluated.