Re: Dancing On The Newspaper’s Grave

Kevin B. O'Reilly — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:14:57 -0000

I agree there is more than enough room for a plethora of approaches to news reporting. To the extent that there is a market for more "viewpoint journalism," I don't have a big problem with it. One major constraint that faces most news gathering operations, however, is their lack of expertise. They know how to present news and information in a compelling, intelligible way. They understand what their audience cares about.

They are good at getting their hands on the experts, and at explaining complex subjects in terms consumers can understand. But very few reporters and editors actually have any training or expertise in, say, economics, urban planning, or foreign policy. People who cover the police department don't really know how a police department should be run. Aiming for objectivity, if nothing else, acts as useful constraint on otherwise unqualified offerings.

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Re: Dancing On The Newspaper’s Grave