ROBIN on his cybersoc site takes a very long hard look at the way journalists, including himself, approached those who had been caught up in the shootings at Virginia Tech.
He highlights the number of news services who left messages on a Live Journal post and the backlash from other readers this created, as well as his own thoughts on how journalists should approach verification of stories produced on the internet.
One thing I think a journalist has to consider is that if they see messages previously left by other news organisations do they really think their request is going to make any difference?
But in the press pack's defence many are only just getting to grips with the blogging world and unfortunately on the internet there is no police tape keeping them back from the scene.
As Robin points out, maybe some procedures need to be put in place by editorial bosses so that if a source can't be verified then at least readers or viewers are informed of the fact.
Really interesting Craig, I love the way you take such a complex issue and boil it down into such straightforward accessible chunks - that'll be the journalistic background then. :)
Posted by: Linda | June 29, 2007 at 12:32
Hi Linda, thanks for the message. I think there is still much to learn as publishing online is still such a new and evolving environment. All the best, Craig
Posted by: Craig McGinty | July 01, 2007 at 21:24