4 ms·

I was recently talking with a journalist about how to get new ideas into the press. She told me that you basically need to lie. If your ideas contradict the na

I was recently talking with a journalist about how to get new ideas into the press. She told me that you basically need to lie. If your ideas contradict the narrative, or are complicated in any way, you need to come up with a baby version of those ideas that doesn't contradict any sacred journalistic beliefs. Even then you'll face an uphill battle.

idlewords 10y ago
I don't think it's as dire as that. Journalists are on the lookout for a story. Help them tell a good story. There aren't many "sacred journalistic beliefs" beyond "don't take things at face value" and "coffee is necessary."
- blfr 10y ago
  These aren't inherently journalistic beliefs. Just sacred beliefs of people who are usually journalists. Also, "don't take things at face value" looks about as dead in modern journalism as their revenue streams.
- yummyfajitas 10y ago
  Often the true story isn't a good one. Here's an example from a few years back. Journalists got a bee in their bonnet that Costco wasn't into MBAs. That must be the key to their success, relative to Walmart! http://washingtonmonthly.com/2013/06/09/the-secret-of-costcos-success-revealed-hint-no-mbas-need-apply/ http://washingtonmonthly.com/2013/06/09/the-secret-of-costco... The wonkish answer - fewer SKUs, less labor intensive process involving higher skill workers, more affluent customers - is unfortunately too boring to be picked up. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/26/why-can-t-walmart-be-more-like-costco.html http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/26/why-can-t-w... See also discussions of high frequency trading, basic income, algorithmic discrimination, and a variety of others. Algorithms wearing klan robes and voting Trump is a good story, but a stats 101 lecture explaining why linear regression doesn't do that is a very boring story.
- mzw_mzw 10y ago
  More like "don't take things at face value, unless those things were provided by groups I support politically."
mrkgnao 10y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window

idlewords 10y ago

I don't think it's as dire as that. Journalists are on the lookout for a story. Help them tell a good story. There aren't many "sacred journalistic beliefs" beyond "don't take things at face value" and "coffee is necessary."

blfr 10y ago
These aren't inherently journalistic beliefs. Just sacred beliefs of people who are usually journalists. Also, "don't take things at face value" looks about as dead in modern journalism as their revenue streams.
yummyfajitas 10y ago
Often the true story isn't a good one. Here's an example from a few years back. Journalists got a bee in their bonnet that Costco wasn't into MBAs. That must be the key to their success, relative to Walmart! http://washingtonmonthly.com/2013/06/09/the-secret-of-costcos-success-revealed-hint-no-mbas-need-apply/ http://washingtonmonthly.com/2013/06/09/the-secret-of-costco... The wonkish answer - fewer SKUs, less labor intensive process involving higher skill workers, more affluent customers - is unfortunately too boring to be picked up. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/26/why-can-t-walmart-be-more-like-costco.html http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/26/why-can-t-w... See also discussions of high frequency trading, basic income, algorithmic discrimination, and a variety of others. Algorithms wearing klan robes and voting Trump is a good story, but a stats 101 lecture explaining why linear regression doesn't do that is a very boring story.
mzw_mzw 10y ago
More like "don't take things at face value, unless those things were provided by groups I support politically."

mrkgnao 10y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window