Being first is one of the driving forces behind journalism. Beating the competition is what many journalists strive for, but that sometimes means the work is not done properly. This has consequences for the media in general, as it undermines public trust. Yet there is another way for journalists to distinguish themselves from the competition, because “As long as the media remain in constant competition, fake news will persist—driven by the race to be first rather than to be right.”
Fake news is a major problem in today’s society. Everywhere on social media, you come across photos or videos that are false or taken out of context. But it doesn’t stop there— quotes, posts, and even articles are not always accurate either. This makes it difficult to trust sources, as you never know whether something is true or not. It’s also a major
problem for the media, which constantly compete to be the first to report the news— often at the expense of accuracy.
Social Media Comes First
However, the fact that media outlets compete with one another should not mean we have to accept fake news. Nowadays, traditional media (newspapers, television, and radio) are no longer the first to break stories. It’s very easy for someone to grab their phone and even livestream what’s happening right in front of them. If a tree falls down due to a storm, somebody that passes by can easily record it and post it on there story.
As a result, the media are often already lagging behind the facts. This means journalists must work faster; otherwise, the story will already have spread so widely on social media that traditional media coverage becomes redundant. This increases the pressure to be first, because whoever breaks the news first attracts the most readers.
To be first, journalists don’t always have time to wait for reliable sources to respond. This can lead to misinformation in articles or posts. Because of social media, all news outlets have access to the same information at the same time, which increases the pressure to work quickly. This is a problem because it reduces the credibility of the news brand and can even lead to a complete loss of trust in the news.
Why Be First?
The urge to be first isn’t necessarily positive—but why is it so important for news outlets? Mainly because they gain more subscribers; more people read their news because it’s the most up to date. And not only do they gain more subscribers, but they also attract more readers because that information can’t be found anywhere else.
The competition to be first is therefore mostly about money: the more subscribers and readers, the more revenue comes in. Unfortunately, this also means more inaccuracies online and greater distrust in the media. The distrust forms, because the media is wrong.
Fake news will always exist as long as everyone wants to be the first to break a story.
If a brand that you trust and is considered reliable posts something that is wrong, it makes you question everything they post. Not only that, but it makes you question other reliable sources as well, because the other news brand was also considered reliable. That’s why traditional media need to make a shift—the same kind of shift newspapers
made when television and radio first emerged.
The Solution: Back to the Traditional Newspaper
Instead of attracting readers by being the first, news outlets should focus on attracting readers by being original. Being first is no longer realistic, as mentioned above, because citizens are often quicker to share information on social media than professional journalists. However, when a news outlet later publishes an article that offers more depth and context, it also draws readers in.
Newspapers experienced this shift when television and radio came along. Those media reported the news several times a day, while the newspaper only arrived the next morning. Newspapers were therefore lagging behind current events and had to take a new direction. Instead of focusing on being first, they began offering more background
and analysis. That shift ensured that people still read newspapers today—because they provide more than just the headlines.
Conclusion
Fake news will always exist as long as everyone wants to be the first to break a story. Being the first means not everything can be properly verified, especially when competitors are also aware of the news. Nowadays, anyone can share whatever they want online. So, if something happens somewhere in the world, people on the spot can post it immediately—often before a journalist has even arrived. As a result, news outlets are rarely the first anymore and must work faster to keep up. But if we stop focusing on being the first and instead aim to be the best, that can only benefit the media.
RESEARCH | ARTICLE © Anne van den Berg
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