EDITORIAL: Long-form journalism sadly disappearing

[webfact]

EDITORIAL: 

Long-form journalism sadly disappearing

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

‘Magnifying-glass’ reporters are now becoming the order of the day

 

In one of his latest interviews, media veteran Suthichai Yoon bemoaned the fading away of “long-form journalism”, which he said was being replaced by “magnifying-glass” journalism. The difference, he insisted, was staggering, because the latter type of journalism is, more often than not, preventing the public from seeing all sides of a story.

 

The media veteran, who founded The Nation decades ago and is working in semi-retirement for the news media industry, said long-form journalism remained his motto because it allowed news consumers to absorb all necessary pieces of information and make their judgement based on that. Magnifying-glass journalism, on the other hand, zooms in on certain aspects and subsequent reports may please certain audiences, but it does not necessarily show the public the whole truth.

 

Political partisanship and illusional glory attached to the number of “likes” and frequency of “sharing” are promoting that magnifying-glass journalism, Suthichai said. Another key factor is the decreasing financial independence of news media outlets, which makes them rely on sponsorship or advertising money a lot more than before. When all influences are combined, news consumers are presented with a real danger of not getting the whole picture. Not only are news reports magnifying certain aspects of an issue, they are probably covered under the guidance of those with financial control, who know little about media ethics.

 

In the past, subscription money gave the media a considerable degree of independence. But the fast-progressing technology chipped away at the two-pillar revenue foundation of the news media industry, leaving advertising or sponsorship as the predominant source of income. Consequently, many news outlets have to increasingly serve the remaining source of money in order to survive.

 

Magnifying-glass journalism can serve the source of money or specific ideologies, and the questionable operation is aided by the shorter attention span of today’s news consumers. While the technology brings news to consumers faster, it shortens their attention on any issue considerably. This is bad news for long-form journalism, as reporters have to jump from one issue to another very quickly, leaving them a lot less time to give a topic all possible angles it deserves.

 

The situation is good for activists disguising as journalists. The two groups have differences and similarities. However, the similarities are glaring (fighting against the powers-that-be or trying to find out what is hidden) while differences are subtle, which means many activists can stay in journalistic shells for as long as they want.

 

Clarifying the “subtle differences” requires an example. Let’s take abortion. When a journalist has “enough” information, he or she tells the public, “Here’s my information and here’s what I think.” There can be pro-abortion journalists or anti-abortion journalists, but they have to be a cup that is never full. If you are an anti-abortion activist, you may be tempted to use your “magnifying glass” to highlight bad effects of abortion.

 

Long-form journalism helps reporters be the cup that is never full. It obligates reporters to find new angles, missing pieces of evidence or the possible devil in the details. If this type of journalism really dies, what can likely disappear with it include crucial parts of the truth. “Comprehensive news stories”, the ultimate goal of long-form journalists, can become endangered species.

 

There is no perfect answer on what can be done by journalists. News consumers must be part of the solution. Before making a final judgement, they must help find the missing angles or fill the loopholes they see. That’s the only effective way, at least for now, to save long-form journalism.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30344274

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-30

[Bluespunk]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

The difference, he insisted, was staggering, because the latter type of journalism is, more often than not, preventing the public from seeing all sides of a story.

I thought that was the defamation laws. 

[meechai]

Quote

Political partisanship and illusional glory attached to the number of “likes” and frequency of “sharing” are promoting that magnifying-glass journalism,

They just described this forum look at some of the topics in World News that have become basically a click baiting blog running 5+ months

Edited April 30, 2018 by meechai

[worgeordie]

What Thailand needs is more investigative journalism,problem is

who would be crazy enough,as there are so many obstacles in the

way of the truth been presented to the public,the computer crime

law,and failing that there's always the gun !!

 

So don't expect to see the Thai versions of Panorama,Private Eye

or 60 minutes anytime soon......or anytime really.

regards worgeordie

[wicketkeeper]

This piece is too long.

[yellowboat]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

The situation is good for activists disguising as journalists.

Or journalists becoming activists.  Or activists being journalists.  When your country's world press freedom ranking is so low, all must try to report the truth.  

[Megasin1]

This is not new news, neither is it newsworthy, its just the last gasp of a dying breed that killed themselves off and amen to that !!

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

What Suthichai says is correct, and in fact things are becoming much worse with Targeted News and Fake News.

Also the standard of editing has declined substantially, with "Click Bait" headlines and unedited voice recognition reports.

It is a sad state of affairs.

 

[lamyai3]

13 hours ago, wicketkeeper said:

This piece is too long.

If I was his editor I'd send it back, and tell him to replace what he's written with: "This newer breed of journalists can't see the wood for the trees."

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

On 4/30/2018 at 10:48 PM, Megasin1 said:

This is not new news, neither is it newsworthy, its just the last gasp of a dying breed that killed themselves off and amen to that !!

It is valid opinion from someone that has great experience of the work of a genuine journalist.

SM has given "J. Nobody" with little, none or unreliable information the platform to express a view.

So called "Millennials generation" (often taken as born in the late 80s) are not aware of anything other than the crap on Instafacetwit,

Targeted news cuts out anything you should read from the argument of the opposition.

It is as good as both censorship, propaganda.

The irrelevant obsession with half baked celebrity nonsense also shows how meaningless it has become since SM started to collect and sell all your private details...