The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on healthcare again reminded journalists of the risks of trying too hard to report breaking news first. First of all, what’s so important about being first?
- I can’t recall one person who said he or she watched my station because we regularly were first to report breaking news.
- Few people line up several TVs in their living rooms to determine which station reported something first.
- How will people remember which station reports the news first when few people can even remember the full names of a TV station’s anchors?
- The only people who really care about being first are those in the newsroom and I’m not sure it actually matters to most of them.
- TV managers who claim their staff reported something first have no idea some guy on Twitter reported it way before the news crew arrived on scene.
- Saying “Action 6 News was first on the scene…” just sounds cheesy and more appropriate for a Saturday Live skit.
- I lost track of the number of times viewers called my station to complain about a story, which actually aired on another channel. So I guess even if you report breaking news first, your competitor could get the credit.
- I’m sure reporting the news first holds far less impact on ratings than a really happy weatherman who makes viewers laugh.
- And who determines which “first” matters most. The first to report the event? The first live shot on the scene? The first live witness interview? The first animated graphic with alliteration and a super sound effect?
- Too often, being first to report the news makes someone last in accuracy. And the facts are the first thing that truly matters.
