The term "quantitative literacy" is used in this article to reinforce its importance in catering for reform-based curricula in Australia. The medium chosen for the problems discussed in this paper is the newspaper. The purpose of this article is to tie together traditional views of the importance of problem solving with the current aims of numeracy and quantitative literacy. In doing this, the author considers another angle on the development of quantitative literacy. Watson (1997) suggested a hierarchy for the related field of statistical literacy, which is easily adapted in the wider milieu. The hierarchy suggests three tiers or steps in the development of the goal of quantitative literacy: (1) The terminology needs to be understood; (2) This terminology then needs to be understood within the social (or scientific) context in which it is used; and (3) There needs to be a critical awareness that prompts questioning of claims in context that are made without proper justification. (Contains 5 figures.)