And the news networks better know it.
In ‘Michael Jackson's death and its lessons for online journalists covering breaking news’, Robert Niles criticized certain news organisations for being slow on the uptake of the coverage of Michael Jackson’s death back in June 2009.
Image Source: Twitter RIP Michael Jackson
Twitter crashed from overcapacity on Michael Jackson's death day
Newsrooms are forced to re-examine how they handle breaking news in an increasingly hyper, competitive, instant-publishing environment (Niles 2009b). Internet users worldwide are not depending on traditional media for major breaking news anymore; they utilize Web 2.0 tools like Twitter and Google, and the news offices better jump in the wagon and go with the flow if they want to keep up.
In the article, Niles (2009b) state that reputable news organisations need not fall in line behind sources like celebrity gossip site TMZ when major news break. They should not fear acknowledging that they know that the report is out there and people are talking about it, and that they have a team out there to get the full confirmation.
Therefore Niles (2009b) advises news networks to divide people to do the actual reporting, and also not leave out the constant updating of news through the Internet. As quoted, he shares that “The worst thing you can offer you readers on Twitter is silence.”
“Report on your reporting, if that's all you have. Readers will appreciate the transparency.”
Even if a major news network does not have the luxury of reporting a news before full confirmation unlike gossip sites or social networking sites (Media Bistro 2009), it is still depended on to offer fast and instant updates. Or else it would just open them to embarrassment and give the impression that they do not have efficient people researching and reporting.
CNN experienced it in early June when they failed to provide live coverage of live protests of Iranians over elections issues, and the hashtag #CNNFail became one of the top trending topics on Twitter (Niles 2009a).
People and netizens want fast and credible instant updates, and the requirements are growing every day. And the news people better give them that, or lose their audience.
References
Niles, R. 2009, ‘Lessons for online journalists from #CNNFail and the Iran uprising’, Online Journalism Review, viewed November 17 2009, http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/robert/200906/1752/
Niles, R. 2009, ‘Michael Jackson's death and its lessons for online journalists covering breaking news’, Online Journalism Review, viewed November 17 2009, http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/robert/200906/1755/
Media Bistro 2009, Twitters Of Patrick Swayze's Death Greatly Exaggerated, viewed November 17 2009, http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/show_business/twitters_of_patrick_swayzes_death_greatly_exaggerated_116909.asp
