The old adage “better right and last, than first and wrong” was a verse of near biblical importance in my newsroom. Many a time I didn’t break a story (mainly due to my competition’s later press times and deadlines), but in most circumstances I did a better job of getting the facts out. It took a while, but the community began to figure out that waiting a day was better than not getting the right answers.
Eventually this should sink in to some in the television media. The minutes after the Fort Hood shootings were filled with reports of multiple shooters and other malfeasance that was not based in reality. I’m still waiting for the New Orleans Saints to unearth the hundreds of bodies from the Superdome basement. The latest in the “get it wrong and get it quick” media was yesterday’s escapade with Tiger Woods.
Twelve hours after the incident took place, ESPN and the various outlets broke into coverage to announce that Tiger Woods was in serious condition following an auto accident. The same tale was spun across the web, whether at the local Orlando Sentinel or the lines and tickers on the cable nets. While viewers wondered if Tiger was going to survive the day, he was actually sitting at home and out of the hospital. After a few hours of embarrassment, the story began to change. Finally, after 6 p.m., it was announced he was at his house and that the rumors of his “condition” were heavily exaggerated, it not, outright wrong.
CBS tried to shift blame to Woods agent, who told the network “no comment” on Tiger’s condition early in the day. Where “serious condition” comes out of “no comment,” I don’t know, but it was enough for Tim Brando to finger him in the middle of its college football coverage on Friday.
Maybe there is the excuse that the outlets were in a rush to break the story, but they had already missed it for 12 hours.
If this was an isolated incident, it would be one thing, but it isn’t – it’s been a habit since the 2000 election. It happens nearly everytime breaking news occurs. The first details are extremely sketchy, yet cable and mainstream nets relate them as facts. It’s hard to believe these details would hold up to any sort of confirmation.
The days of an objective media have been ending since the 1970s, whether it’s technology or accusations of bias, the real death knell is outrageous reporting at the expense of reality.
Whether FOX, CNN, MSNBC or ESPN, the television media is doing a horrible job of on scene reporting. It’s a mark on the whole profession and against all journalists, whether of the broadcast or print stripes. At some point, network executives have to ask themselves why viewers will tune into breaking coverage if the viewers know there is a better-than-even chance none of it will stand up to confirmation.
Some of these problems are just hazards of real-time reporting and our brave, new media world. New or not, viewers and readers won’t care. If they can’t trust it they won’t watch, no matter how many screaming heads are dangled in front of the scream to keep the masses entertained.
Television needs a new adage – get it right or don’t get it at all.
In slightly partial defense… they might have gotten the word “serious” from the authorities who — and I haven’t seen their policy manual — might use that word to describe any accident/violator who gets an ambulance ride regardless of their actual condition medically. It’s still lazy not not to know that or check up on that.
TMZ is reporting that Tiger and the Missus got into a fight over an alleged affair. As much as I hate to admit it — they’re probably right.
and I should add that I hope either TMZ is wrong and if they are right — I hope Mrs. Woods is wrong and Tiger hits it straight down the fairway so to speak.
TMZ’s reporting is pretty consistent with some folks I talked to yesterday when this all happened. Whether his straying happened or not, I don’t know, but it looks like it was enough to get Tiger’s wife to do some Chip Foose-like metal work on the Escalade and her hubby’s face with a four-iron.
If the “serious” condition was the result of an ambulance ride, that’s a new one to me. In my neck of the woods, condition is always related at the hospital, not on the report or from the authorities.
This incident won’t do well for the PGA. Not so much because of Tiger’s “impeccable” record, but because golf has as pretty serious groupie aspect that the media hardly touches on.
I wonder if a reporter picked up the word at the scene or from a public safety worker and ran with it. If I remember I don’t think the hospital ever used the words “serious condition”. Either way it’s lazy — it would be much worse to make it up as opposed to a misinterpret.
Reporters will always side with lazy, that’s a given. The thing is, even if it was just one reporter picking it up, it should put the fear of god into some editors that no one bothered to go out and confirm it for themselves. I never trust competing media sources when it’s my own byline going at the top.
Is this really something new? I remember that on the day when John Hinckley tried to show his undying love for Jody Foster, initial reports varied as to the number of people he’d shot and their condition. I know I heard reports of not just Brady’s death, but one of the cops.
Love the bottom-screen tickers running all day on the various football games, too. Despite the new news continuing to come in, very few (if any) changes to the narrative.
I actually think it’s a good idea for people to take all their news with a grain of salt. Having worked in TV news, for a while, I can attest to the accuracy, or the lack thereof – most of it simple human error.
Where this could become a problem is with emergency situations like impending disasters – where people need to trust the info that they’re getting. Wonder if we’re becoming too jaded to actually take action, should an actual national or regional emergency occur?
Kenn… it’s akin to “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” scenario. The media overhypes, obfuscates, etc. so often that we won’t believe them when they do report on an actual pandemic, environmental disaster, etc.
I was freaking out about this until it came out Tiger was home. So who wants to bet the fight was over the Enquierer artical? If Tiger cheated on his wife he is dead to me. And he got what he deserved.
The putter needs to remain in the golgbag when not on the green!
I’m sorry, but I’d have to work hard to gin up enough interest to not care.
Great post. I’ve trained myself to take breaking news updates with a grain of salt. What a shame that a news consumer needs to treat news in such a manner.