4 ms·

> …would like to see an alternative that is at the same quality level as the Economist (but with more neutral reporting and individual author names given)… Mor

> …would like to see an alternative that is at the same quality level as the Economist (but with more neutral reporting and individual author names given)… More publications should remove the byline. Individual attribution incentivises journalists to try and stand out which typically means making intentionally inflammatory statements.

dpacmittal 4y ago
Interesting, my first thought was that attribution will add accountability and authors would be more careful of their words.
- pjc50 4y ago
  The Times columnist who got cited in two mass shooter manifestos as an inspiration is still working.
  - enumjorge 4y ago
    Can you share more info on this? I want to read more about it, but a few google search didn't turn up anything.
    - pjc50 4y ago
      https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/25/norway-melanie-phillips-hits-back https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/25/norway-melanie... ; I believe she was also cited by the guy who shot up a mosque in New Zealand.
- musk_micropenis 4y ago
  Many journalists today seem more interested in increasing their Twitter followers than being accountable.
pydry 4y ago
The literal exact opposite happens. Journalists without a byline or with a shrunken byline have little incentive to build up a brand as a trustworthy and thorough reporter because they will derive no benefit from their reputation. When their bosses lean on them to produce crap to gin pageviews up just before bonus season they therefore produce crap. Media owners want this. They want journalism to be commodities because journalists with reputations can demand higher pay. They can then claim more of the profit. The losers are the readers and the journalists. In a sense it's the same process that is turning amazon products into shit. Without trustworthy reputation signals, the lowest common denominator rules.
- itsoktocry 4y ago
  >Journalists without a byline or with a shrunken byline have little incentive to build up a brand as a trustworthy and thorough reporter because they will derive no benefit from their reputation. Or...journalists without a byline have little incentive to "build up a brand" through by appealing to a "side" or sketchy reporting. It cuts both ways.
  - pydry 4y ago
    They are incentivized to do that anyways as their employers chase clicks and views so as to massage the bottom line. Taking away bylines won't make a dent. Taking away bylines simply takes away the incentive to actually be different and stand out for something else.
- yucky 4y ago
  This doesn't necessarily mesh with what we see in reality though. The Economist doesn't use a byline and they're known as having very high quality content. Even if it's slipped a bit in recent years, it's slipped less than writing in general has. Writers who create their own brand tend to create echo chambers, because readers seek out those they trust (i.e. those who don't challenge the readers preconceived notions). I think the biggest predictor of quality writing is the business model of the publication. Subscription based content is almost always superior. Anything that relies entirely on ad revenue is general hot garbage.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

dpacmittal 4y ago

Interesting, my first thought was that attribution will add accountability and authors would be more careful of their words.

pjc50 4y ago
The Times columnist who got cited in two mass shooter manifestos as an inspiration is still working.
- enumjorge 4y ago
  Can you share more info on this? I want to read more about it, but a few google search didn't turn up anything.
  - pjc50 4y ago
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/25/norway-melanie-phillips-hits-back https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/25/norway-melanie... ; I believe she was also cited by the guy who shot up a mosque in New Zealand.
musk_micropenis 4y ago
Many journalists today seem more interested in increasing their Twitter followers than being accountable.

pydry 4y ago

The literal exact opposite happens. Journalists without a byline or with a shrunken byline have little incentive to build up a brand as a trustworthy and thorough reporter because they will derive no benefit from their reputation. When their bosses lean on them to produce crap to gin pageviews up just before bonus season they therefore produce crap. Media owners want this. They want journalism to be commodities because journalists with reputations can demand higher pay. They can then claim more of the profit. The losers are the readers and the journalists. In a sense it's the same process that is turning amazon products into shit. Without trustworthy reputation signals, the lowest common denominator rules.

itsoktocry 4y ago
>Journalists without a byline or with a shrunken byline have little incentive to build up a brand as a trustworthy and thorough reporter because they will derive no benefit from their reputation. Or...journalists without a byline have little incentive to "build up a brand" through by appealing to a "side" or sketchy reporting. It cuts both ways.
- pydry 4y ago
  They are incentivized to do that anyways as their employers chase clicks and views so as to massage the bottom line. Taking away bylines won't make a dent. Taking away bylines simply takes away the incentive to actually be different and stand out for something else.
yucky 4y ago
This doesn't necessarily mesh with what we see in reality though. The Economist doesn't use a byline and they're known as having very high quality content. Even if it's slipped a bit in recent years, it's slipped less than writing in general has. Writers who create their own brand tend to create echo chambers, because readers seek out those they trust (i.e. those who don't challenge the readers preconceived notions). I think the biggest predictor of quality writing is the business model of the publication. Subscription based content is almost always superior. Anything that relies entirely on ad revenue is general hot garbage.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]