A New York Times reporter learned plenty after he shelved digital news for the print variety, mainly that he had more spare time and was more relaxed and better informed. He found that online news featured commentary over news detail making it easier to be misled. Print is slower but more accurate. Those who get their news from Twitter and Facebook are hobbled, “The built-in incentives on Twitter and Facebook reward speed over depth, hot takes over facts and seasoned propagandists over well-meaning analyzers of news,” writes Farhad Manjoo in The New York Times, March 7, 2018.
A Courthouse News Service reporter signed up for Twitter and checked Facebook to see how news from Courthouse coverage looks. He found the viewer comments “snarky, nasty and personal,” with rare good reason and consideration. He found reassurance in some cable news that was “thoughtful and informed,” in contrast to the tumult and charged news on social media. (Courthouse News Service, March 8, 2018, by Bill Girdner)
For previous FAC coverage on the issue, click here.