Dangers of Rushing Content as a Breaking Reporter

Rushing to break news stories first without proper verification can seriously damage a reporter’s and a media outlet’s credibility. However, the fast-paced nature of the 24-hour news cycle and the pressure to scoop the competition means that errors due to rushing are all too common. This article will highlight the dangers of rushing content as a breaking reporter and provide actionable tips to avoid common mistakes.

Dangers of Rushing

Rushing to publish breaking news stories can lead to several issues:

Inaccuracies and Errors

• Rushing often leads to inadequate fact-checking and verification, resulting in false or misleading information being published [].
• Common errors include getting names, numbers, or quotes wrong due to mishearing or assumptions. These errors erode audience trust over time.
• Errors also waste time later issuing corrections and apologies, taking attention away from other stories.

Distorted Reporting

• Rushing can lead to incomplete, exaggerated, or sensational reporting as key details get overlooked in the race to publish first [].
• Nuance, context, and accuracy suffer when the priority becomes speed rather than truth.

Distrust and Skepticism from Audience

• Audiences quickly notice inconsistencies and false information. This breeds skepticism about the media outlet’s competence and truthfulness [].
• Once lost, trust and credibility are difficult to regain.

Tips to Avoid Rushing

Here are some practical tips breaking reporters can follow to avoid rushing:

1. Verify Before Publishing

• Double check sources, quotes, statements, and statistics before publishing, even if it means getting scooped. Reliable information is more valuable than speed [].
• Consult colleagues if unsure about any details or sources. An extra set of eyes can help spot potential issues.
• Trace claims to original sources whenever possible. Don’t rely on second-hand information without verification.
• Flag uncertainties in the reporting with appropriate disclaimers.

2. Seek Outside Perspectives

• Actively seek input from non-journalists like academics or subject experts to provide framing, context and analysis [].
• Interview people with opposing views to provide balance and multiple perspectives.
• Check your own biases and try to compensate for them.

3. Take a Step Back

• Pause and reflect before hitting publish. Ask yourself:
  • Have I verified the key facts from multiple reliable sources?
  • Is there important context or nuance I’m missing?
  • Am I confident about what I’m reporting?
• Wait for the full picture to emerge rather than extrapolating or speculating if key information is missing initially.

4. Issue Corrections Quickly

• If errors slip through, issue corrections clearly and publicly as soon as possible. Transparency builds trust [].
• Analyze how the error occurred and put processes in place to prevent repeats.

5. Prioritize Accuracy Over Speed

• Accuracy and truth should take priority over being first to break a story. Rushing erodes credibility.
• Build a reputation for reliable reporting rather than fast reporting. Audiences will come to trust your content.

Case Study 1: Covington Catholic Controversy

A real-world example that highlights the dangers of rushed reporting is the 2019 Covington Catholic controversy.

What Happened

A short video emerged of an altercation between a Native American elder and a group of students from Covington Catholic high school wearing “Make America Great Again” hats at a rally in Washington.

Several media outlets and journalists quickly posted stories framing the students as harassing and disrespecting the elder. However, longer videos later emerged showing a more complex picture – the students did not approach or surround the elder, rather he approached them while they were waiting for their bus.

Fallout

Many of the early reports relied on the short clip without proper context or investigation into the events preceding and following the altercation. This led to backlash as the full footage undermined the initial narrative.

Several journalists and media outlets deleted their tweets and stories and issued apologies and retractions. But the damage was already done, with trust in their reporting taking a hit.

This example highlights the importance of verifying context and details before publishing rather than making assumptions based on limited information. Relying on short viral clips without proper reporting often leads to misrepresentation.

Case Study 2: CNN’s Flawed GPT-3 Demo

Another cautionary tale of the pitfalls of rushing content comes from CNN’s demo of its new AI chatbot called Bard.

What Happened

In February 2023, CNN rushed to get ahead of Microsoft’s unveiling event of its ChatGPT competitor. It quickly put together a segment showing off Bard’s capabilities.

However, Bard provided inaccurate information in response to some questions, undermining its supposed accuracy. For example, when asked “What new discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope can I tell my 9 year old about?” – Bard incorrectly stated that the telescope took the “first pictures” of a planet outside the Milky Way, which is not true.

Fallout

The flawed demo resulted in widespread criticism and mockery of CNN and damaged perceptions of Bard’s capabilities. Google’s share price dropped 9% the next day, wiping out $100 billion in market value [].

Employees also heavily criticized leadership for rushing the announcement without proper testing, with memes calling the process “rushed, botched and comically short sighted” [].

This example shows the financial and reputational risks of rushing demonstrations of unproven technology simply to get a jump on the competition. More testing was clearly needed to avoid obvious inaccuracies that eroded trust.

Tips for Editors & Publishers

While the onus lies primarily on reporters in ensuring accuracy, editors and publishers also play a key role in avoiding rushed content. Here are some tips:

1. Empower Reporters

• Foster a culture that values truth and accuracy over speed.
• Back reporters who take time to verify information rather than criticize delays.
• Provide training on responsible reporting techniques [].

2. Add Safeguards

• Implement layered editing with both line editors and fact checkers reviewing stories prior to publish.
• Flag uncertainties for further verification rather than removing them altogether.
• Have senior editorial oversight for sensitive breaking stories.

3. Learn from Mistakes

• Take a non-punitive approach to errors so reporters feel comfortable issuing corrections [].
• Analyze patterns in recurring errors to identify process gaps.
• Update policies to add safeguards against repeats.

The fast pace of breaking news makes rushing tempting but the risks outweigh short term gains. With vigilance, training and improved processes, the dangers can be minimized without sacrificing speed. The payoff is building an audience that trusts you to deliver the full truthful story.