The greatest felony in the news business today is to be behind, or to miss a big story. So speed and quantity substitute for thoroughness and quality, for accuracy and context. The pressure to compete, the fear somebody else will make the splash first, creates a frenzied environment in which a blizzard of information is presented and serious questions may not be raised.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Newsrooms prioritize speed over accuracy due to competitive pressure, flooding audiences with unverified information.
- In plain terms
- News focuses on being first rather than being right.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritize accuracy over speed in news consumption and production.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why does news prioritize speed?
- How do you verify breaking news?
Another view
Fast news can still be accurate if processes are robust.
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