Technology has revolutionized the media industry, but it has also eroded the credibility of real journalism.
With the advent of the internet, Twitter and facebook, it appears being first is more important than being right.
If publishing a story online first is indeed the top priority it is a frighteningly slippery slope for journalism.
The ramifications of misplaced priorities were quite apparent on Sept. 24 when media websites, Twitter and facebook were overwhelmed with news “space junk” or a downed satellite crashed in southern Alberta.
News outlets all over the world were reporting the “fact” the satellite crashed in Okotoks.
These were not just blogs and tweets spreading this alleged news, but major mainstream media, including some of the largest daily newspapers in the world, had the story on their websites and twitter feeds.
There were numerous news outlets having to make some embarrassing apologies on Monday as their fallen space junk story was nothing but a hoax.
It took one phone call for a Western Wheel reporter Saturday morning to confirm the story was false before putting a story online debunking the space junk story. Something most other media neglected to do.
This is not the first time being the first to report a story has gotten in the way of being right.
Earlier this year many journalists published stories online stating Arizona Senator Gabrielle Giffords was killed when she was shot in front of a grocery store. In fact, Giffords did not die from her injury and is now back to work. Many media outlets were backtracking on the Giffords story later that day.
When such blatant errors are made, it is a black-eye for journalism.
In addition, often internet and social media users consider bloggers credible journalists using legitimate sources despite not having the experience or commitment to journalistic ethics.
Ethics and integrity in journalism have taken major hits as the internet has blurred the media’s priorities as getting it first has truly become more important than getting it right. It seems there is a mindset it is easier to ask for forgiveness than miss out on a potentially big story by checking one’s facts.
This is disappointing as this is not the basis of good journalism. Hopefully, lessons will be learned and facts will be checked.
