Being First vs Being Accurate

In the race to be "the first to report..." WPTA ABC21Alive has found a new dodge to insulate themselves from being wrong during "breaking news" situations. 

Just as many local newsrooms abused the word "alleged" or "allegedly", a few years ago, thinking that would provide them legal cover, now the word "apparent" or "apparently" is suffering the same fate.

The most recent "officer-involved" shooting, is a perfect example. A frequent blog reader passed this social media post (seen above) from WPTA ABC21Alive. He wondered if using "apparent" meant they were too lazy to call and get verification. The Maven speculated that it was more like getting it published "first", and getting verification later.

An interesting point to ponder is that most journalists say that being accurate is more important than being first. Here's a link to a Forbes article that seems to bear that out: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonysilber/2018/04/24/survey-of-journalists-suggests-accuracy-is-more-important-than-being-first/#:~:text=Being%20100%25%20accurate%20is%20more,to%20change%20how%20journalists%20work. 

If the Forbes survey is to be believed, then why do TV stations incorrectly fall all over themselves to be the "first" on every breaking story? Is this driven by competition with rival newsrooms (read: pissing contest), or, heaven forbid, are the marketing and advertising divisions behind this abomination to drive sales, non-traditional revenue, and corporate profits? If that's the case, all those regional Emmys that local stations like to brag about, are merely participation trophies (randomly handed out with the purchase of a new Broyhill bedroom suite)? 

Remember, it was WPTA ABC21Alive who, a few years ago, notoriously embarrassed themselves with a breaking news report of an active shooter atop the East Central Towers with an assault rifle, firing on Three Rivers Festival crowds. The News Sentinel finally set the record straight with a Tweet quoting FWPD's Mike Joiner that there was not, and never was an active shooter downtown. 

When the dust settled, WPTA's, then nightly anchor, Alexis Gray, was quoted as saying that "facts don't matter during breaking news...and that their newscasts saved lives. 

As for Alexis Gray, whoever said that fiction won't win you an Emmy?