Book 19 - Informing the News
19. Informing the News, by Thomas E. Patterson. This was both an excellent and insightful read- and extremely depressing. The author outlines where covering the news went wrong, why, and some possible myths behind what audiences are looking for (although I do wonder if parts of that research would hold today, this was published in 2013). I've realized myself, as a working journalist, that more specialists in various topics are needed, even before reading this. Patterson puts it in better terms than I could articulate. One phrase that stuck with me is that we are at a unique disadvantage in that our profession relies so heavily on other professionals to get information to write about- but without always fully understanding the situation. At best this can lead to vital topics being oversimplified. At worst, it could lead to scenarios where professionals with an agenda could outright lie, and we don't know enough to catch on to that until it's too late. I don't disagree, Patterson is right. However, is this realistic? Maybe in the 2010s, when this was being compiled. Maybe. But now? The hard reality is if you want journalists with true expertise in a field (medicine, science, and math are three that immediately spring to mind), you need to start paying at least double, and possibly triple, what journalists are being paid now. I realize not having expertise is costly, but smaller, news outlets don't have the budgets, and the larger corporately owned news industries don't have the interest (quite the contrary, but that's another topic for another day). Parts of this were a needed gut check, personally, but it made me think of my job and how I might improve. That's a good thing. What I really like is the list of journalism resources towards the back. Also, Patterson focuses on journalism in general, but especially newspapers and television. So yes, this is a worthwhile read, no doubt. But it's not an easy read, especially for those who care about the field.
Currently reading: Democracy Without Journalism? by Victor Pickard, and A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman.