Graphic courtesy FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Members of the WWW team had the chance to attend the Dig South conference in Charleston this past weekend. Besides presenting on an interesting panel on the state of publishing today, we had the opportunity to attend several sessions on new tech and the way media is moving forward at lightning speed in this brave new world, whether via books, magazines like Garden & Gun, or broadcast media such as CNN.
The panel featuring Meredith Artley, VP and managing editor at CNN.com and Katie Caperton, editor-in-chief on HLNtv.com brought up some interesting discussions about whether it’s more important to “get there first” with a story, or to “get it right.” Artley explained that while their guiding principle is to get the facts and get it right, there is always pressure, from viewers, readers and advertisers, to get there first.
That talk stuck with us over these past couple of days in light of the Boston tragedy. News sources struggled to get there first and still get it right, but a lot of what was shown and said wasn’t right. Stories changed throughout the day as more information became available and social media sites lit up with prayers for the victims and hundreds of photos and videos.
But that’s the problem with anyone and everyone being able to broadcast news – the rest of us must struggle to discern fact from fiction, while victims and their families become fodder for the masses, with little regard for their feelings as horrific and even wrongly identified photos pop up on social media sites to millions.
For those authors blogging, let these events serve as a lesson and a heads up. Follow the old, tried and true rules of real journalism: If you’re blogging on happenings or facts, substantiate them. Gather as much info as you can; offer a balanced perspective.
We may not always get it right – we’re human, after all. But let’s take away from all we see that’s wrong about writing in the public forum, and as authors, try our best to get it right, and not worry so much about getting there first. Readers will respect the integrity in that, and come to value both your opinions and your facts when they know each have been carefully considered before landing on their screens or in their in-boxes.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims of this recent tragedy…
Thanks for this post. Makes me re-think what I will post as fact-based.
Getting there first is of little help if you don’t bring good reporting tools to the story. Again and again, I see stories that leave out essential information, reporting that lacks objectivity, and writing with poor language skills. For instance, there is a difference between “refute” and “rebut,” and a reporter should know the difference. Same applies in using “murder” when what is accurate is “homicide.” A list like this could go on and on, of course, but I see little possibility for change now that the average man on the street has on his person a cell phone and camera.
So agree! But hopefully as the hip writing tribe, we can at least make sure our own stuff isn’t icky!
Well said, at last. Most blogging is simply boring. Writing does, after all, take time and journalism and reporting desperately needs analysis, observation and fact-gathering in addition to the craft.
Sarah Yates
Thanks, Sarah! A great point and one worth reiterating – we know we have to “keep it short” in this drive by world – but keeping it short doesn’t mean it doesn’t take the writer time to get it right!