Traditional media has been pushed by social media to get the news out faster and faster without regard to accuracy. This resulted in false accusations against people who were named. It also resulted in accusing everyone who had a backpack and was seen in any of the various photos and footage that was taken at the Boston Marathon.
Unfortunately, this type of coverage is exactly what the terrorists want. Not only does inaccurate reporting lead to further confusion and terror, it also undermines the respect for media outlets. It used to be that only the weatherman got it wrong.
The reporting on the terrorist act also takes away from other important news stories. In this case, it was the 15 people that were killed and 200 injured in a Texas fertilizer plant explosion and the fact that the House of Representatives passed Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA).
There is more drama involved in an unfolding hunt for terrorists. There is also less reporting needed. Police, social media and cameras that were already on scene could provide a bulk of the material that could be dissected and speculated upon.
In covering the Texas explosion, there were no cameras on location, and there wasn’t anyone to talk to. The cause of the explosion is still unknown, but death on the job seems to be expected or at least accepted regardless of the cause.
Clearly, media has to do a better job at prioritizing its coverage of major events. However, it isn’t just the media that needs to change; it is the consumers of the media. In a market driven media economy, media outlets will report on what the majority of people want to watch, rather than on those things that people should know to make informed decision in a democracy. The media, especially in a conglomerate world where profits of 20 and 30 percent are expected, will continue to cut spending and cover things that do not deserve the attention and add no value to the life of the consumer, like celebrities and news stories that run continuously, even when there is nothing new to report.