So a really interesting article came across my facebook timeline yesterday. It was a story about church leaders in South Auckland coming out in support of National.
A small group of influential Pacific Island clergy have sparked fierce debate in South Auckland after they declared they would switch their support from the traditional Labour Party to the National Party.
Now that alone is an interesting story, but the thing I think the Main Stream media could learn is about linking and citing. The story goes on to say:
The action, taken at the Manurewa flea market on Sunday, is under fire on Pacific Island social media.
Now, firstly, what is “Pacific Island social media”? I assume they mean social media used by the Pacific Island community, unless there is a specific social media focused on the Pacific community, which if there is, I would like to know about. But no where does the story link to, or have screen grabs of what is being said? Is it that hard for them to point us in the direction of these posts? There is going to be a lot of discussion about social media in the coming months, it is going to be playing a larger and larger role in how certain sections of the community. If the mainstream media are going to be talking about social media, they should be providing a link to the discussions, so that readers can see what is being said, or at lest screen grabs. Just like they would attribute comments to someone at an event, or in a book.
The newspapers seem to see Facebook and Twitter as an easy way to get a quote without actually having to interview anyone. Need a quote from the opposing viewpoint, but can’t be bothered talking to anyone, go to FB or Twitter! Then just add a sentence to the bottom of your article – “But twitter user @pithyquotegenerator tweeted that she was ‘disgusted by John Key’s comments'”.
Even better, they sometimes seem able to turn the randomly sourced FB comment or tweet into an actual story in its own right – “There have been howls of outrage online following John Key’s comments that [insert comment]. Twitter user [x] tweeted, “[insert tweet]”, while another user [y] tweeted, “[insert further predictable outrage]”. A Facebook page has also been set up denouncing Mr Key’s comments.”
I constantly gnash my teeth together and decry that two Twitter users with a grievance does not a story make. Nor does a Facebook page with 10 “likes”…
I fully agree on that. But if you are going to refer to them, LINK to them, it isn’t that hard!
The mainstream media link to things? Sacrilege, sir, sacrilege! That might divert attention away from their own poorly researched articles… And that would never do. You should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting such a thing. I recommend six lashes and a significant number of Hail Mary’s.