Whenever a newsworthy event occurs locally or internationally, there are soon countless articles covering it. Journalists want to be the first to report breaking news, and there is often competition over who publishes the story first. However, some focus more on speed than accuracy in their stories.
Both aspects of news writing are important. Journalists need to cover events as quickly as they can because news can soon lose its relevance and significance for the audience. Therefore, they must investigate the event and gather the facts to share on their platforms. However, to write credible and trustworthy articles, they must also be accurate. Professionals need to research the story, find reliable information, and verify their sources before sharing it online. If they do not follow these practices, they risk sharing incorrect information that can damage their reputation, upset their audience, and even hurt the people involved in the story.
Earlier this year, this happened to a popular journalist in my country. During a live broadcast of a well-known TV show, the journalist announced the death of Lionel Messi’s father, which was incorrect. The situation quickly escalated when it was confirmed that the information was false. The announcement upset the audience and Messi’s family, and it reportedly affected the journalist’s career and led to canceled projects.
For me, accuracy is more important than speed. I want to read real, trustworthy information, and I think it is acceptable for journalists to take longer to investigate an event. Being first is not always a good practice because it can put honesty and ethical principles at risk.
Micaela Medina
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