Anyone reasonably trained knows this. But for reporters in their 20s, they’ve never seen or heard of anything else.
"CEO said a thing!" journalism involves parroting the claims of a business leader or executive with absolutely no context, correction, or challenge whatsoever, no matter how elaborate the delusion
Submitted 3 days ago by spit_evil_olive_tips@beehaw.org to technology@beehaw.org
https://karlbode.com/ceo-said-a-thing-journalism/
Comments
Powderhorn@beehaw.org 3 days ago
MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 2 days ago
Journalism as a profession has been mercilessly crushed this entire century (at least) and we are all (save the 1%, perhaps) the poorer for it. There’s a reason it was considered one of the fundamentals of a functioning democracy.
What the article describes isn’t even reporting, let alone journalism, it’s a form of marketing.
Jiggle_Physics@piefed.zip 2 days ago
Have you ever read newspapers from the 19th or 18th centuries? Cause I have bad news for you about the history of journalism.
tangentism@beehaw.org 2 days ago
In the UK, it’s because we have a monoculture. 80% of journalists come from professional and upper class backgrounds according to a new report from the NCTJ so they don’t question authority or speak truth to power because it’s their buddies!
lvxferre@mander.xyz 3 days ago
I see some angry person. The good type of angry — directing his anger at the right things.
To be clear: Bode is not criticising the fact that journalists quote what CEOs say. He’s criticising the fact they do it and call it a day, as if saying “trust the CEO”.
It goes without saying that CEOs are really loud when saying what they want the sucker (you) to believe. So if that’s all you want, you need no journalist. A journalist is only useful if you want to know the factual reality; but for that they need to contextualise and challenge the claims, not just parrot them.
I’d end with some noble call for the U.S. media industry to do better, but it’s abundantly clear they don’t want to.
If it’s any consolation it isn’t just the United-Statian media.
ArseAssassin@sopuli.xyz 2 days ago
“CEO said a thing -articles are the future of journalism!” says Sam McZuckermusk
melsaskca@lemmy.ca 2 days ago
Who believes billionaire media anymore? It’s not journalism, just more spin/entertainment designed to ignite a fire of hate between american citizens for dollars. I say we build a guillotine for capitalism (the rest of the shitty billionaires will fall soon afterwards).
whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 days ago
The pattern is obvious when you start looking for labor representation in mass media, like what were the labor leaders quoted saying regarding the same thing the capitalist executive is talking about, or how many articles quote just an executive vs how many just quote a labor leader.
luciferofastora@feddit.org 2 days ago
CEOs are lauded as visionary and it’s just not as engaging to read about crushed visions. Even if we disregard the whole “corporate talking pieces” and “journalists often stem from the social elite” parts, just the drive for engagement and clicks would explain a slant towards writing about great ideas rather than disappointing realism. How many people enjoy SciFi? How many love pedantic analyses why they’re absolutely unrealistic?
I mean, I love pedantry (as well as the genre itself), but I’m a minority and fine with it – stories can be fun without being realistic and disbelief can be suspended in favour of entertainment.
CEOs spouting bullshit shouldn’t be taken as stories for entertainment though, and much less printed in a serious manner. For them, critical disassembly should be the norm, mandatory even.
herseycokguzelolacak@lemmy.ml 2 days ago
A very large part of tech and finance journalism consists of paid engagements.
BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 2 days ago
Some genius got the idea to change the words at the top of an official statement from Public Relations Announcement to Press Release, and every news media fell for it.
His boss probably took credit for the idea, got a promotion and an enormous raise, and fired the guy who really thought if it.
inari@piefed.zip 3 days ago
Data centers IN SPACE!
Acritically repeated by every news source.
Modern journalism is PR for the rich.
Sims@lemmy.ml 3 days ago
Journalism for profit is a disaster…