Is focus more important in journalism than truth and facts?

Take the following short story. Let's imagine that it's an important even that should be reported on.

One day, Little Red Riding Hood’s mother said to her, “Take this basket of goodies to your grandma’s cottage, but don’t talk to strangers on the way!” Promising not to, Little Red Riding Hood skipped off. On her way she met the Big Bad Wolf who asked, “Where are you going, little girl?” “To my grandma’s, Mr. Wolf!” she answered.

The Big Bad Wolf then ran to her grandmother’s cottage much before Little Red Riding Hood, and knocked on the door. When Grandma opened the door, he locked her up in the cupboard. The wicked wolf then wore Grandma’s clothes and lay on her bed, waiting for Little Red Riding Hood.

When Little Red Riding Hood reached the cottage, she entered and went to Grandma’s bedside. “My! What big eyes you have, Grandma!” she said in surprise. “All the better to see you with, my dear!” replied the wolf. “My! What big ears you have, Grandma!” said Little Red Riding Hood. “All the better to hear you with, my dear!” said the wolf. “What big teeth you have, Grandma!” said Little Red Riding Hood. “All the better to eat you with!” growled the wolf pouncing on her. Little Red Riding Hood screamed and the woodcutters in the forest came running to the cottage. They beat the Big Bad Wolf and rescued Grandma from the cupboard. Grandma hugged Little Red Riding Hood with joy. The Big Bad Wolf ran away never to be seen again. Little Red Riding Hood had learnt her lesson and never spoke to strangers ever again.

Let's say everything in this story is the "truth" there is nothing made up and it's just the straight facts. Now two journalists get a hold of the story and write the following reports

Journalist A

One day, Little Red Riding Hood’s mother said to her, “Take this basket of goodies to your grandma’s cottage, but don’t talk to strangers on the way!” Promising not to, Little Red Riding Hood skipped off.

On her way she met Mr. Wolf who asked, “Where are you going, little girl?” “To my grandma’s, Mr. Wolf!” she answered. When Little Red Riding Hood reached the cottage, she entered and went to Grandma’s bedside. Grandma hugged Little Red Riding Hood with joy. Little Red Riding Hood had learnt her lesson.

Journalist B

One day, Little Red Riding Hood’s mother said to her, “Take this basket of goodies to your grandma’s cottage”

The Big Bad Wolf ran to her grandmother’s cottage much before Little Red Riding Hood, he locked her up in the cupboard. The wicked wolf then wore Grandma’s clothes and lay on her bed, waiting for Little Red Riding Hood.

When Little Red Riding Hood reached the cottage, she entered and went to Grandma’s bedside. “What big teeth you have, Grandma!” said Little Red Riding Hood. “All the better to eat you with!” growled the wolf pouncing on her. Little Red Riding Hood screamed. Little Red Riding Hood never spoke to strangers ever again.

Both journalists told the truth, nearly verbatim. But each omitted key information. Journalist A made the world seem way too rosy. Journalist B made the world sound more chaotic and scary than it really is.

Even though this is a contrived example, I find something similar happening with news and social media. Almost everything in the various news sources is true, so the problem is not lies, the problem is that events that get spotlight are sometimes problematic. Let's say there is a war and side A kills an innocent woman. On the same day, side B kills 100 retreating soldiers without allowing surrender. These are two separate events. Separate stories. Newspaper A and B pick a different headline. Of course this problem isn't new, but it's getting worse. Is it true that now focus is more important than truth? And if so, is there a formal journalistic methodology to make sure that focus is balanced correctly? Sometimes, especially with social media focus isn't even controlled by the news. It's the masses that decide what to focus on and what will go viral and what won't. How does journalism counter that?

posted about 6 years ago

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