If you can’t make yours first make yours better. If someone beats you to a scoop, so be it. Here’s some free advice for the media, of which I am a proud member, and worth every cent you pay for it: Slow down. It falls more along the lines of, “If we can’t trust them to get this right, why should we trust them with anything else?” And don’t worry, social media lighted up like a Christmas tree with criticism and complaint, much of it deserved in this case. It’s true, it’s hard to claim this is part of a liberal agenda – surely liberals and conservatives alike can agree that Tom Petty is great. And it gives fodder to those who blast the media day and night. For Petty’s family and friends, it makes a horrible situation even worse, if that’s possible. So it’s important to point this out, as well. I’ve spent a lot of time over the last few months sermonizing about the importance of speaking with clarity and honesty, of doing things right – and of the media pointing out when this doesn’t happen. Then something comes along like today’s mess. Bragging rights sometimes come with dollar signs. During “sweeps” ratings periods you get to say your network broke the story. You get there first, after all, you get more readers. That sounds quaint to a lot of people, probably. There’s an old saying in news: It’s better to be right than first. I love Tom Petty and I’ve had any number of great times singing along to “American Girl” with my oldest daughter.)Īnd all very misguided, or at least early. Interestingly, while many people posted a favorite song, Petty’s such a varied artist that not many people posted the same one. (And yes, I took part, too. Or ever, really.Īnd then, sadly, genuine reports of his death began circulating, hours later.Īs happens when this kind of story breaks, there was a massive outpouring of grief, a kind of shared social-media misery that has become our national way of mourning. It was confusing, ugly and the kind of black eye the media really can’t afford right now. The LAPD, which CBS cited as a source, said it could no longer confirm his death. Then TMZ came back with a report that Petty was not, in fact, dead, but clinging to life after being taken off life support. Lots of media outlets followed suit, including the USA TODAY Network, citing the ever popular “reportedly.” Then CBS, then Variety reported that he had died. TMZ reported that he had been hospitalized. Of course you wouldn't have known that by reading the reports that the singer and songwriter died of a massive heart attack. Hearts break in Hollywood after Tom Petty dies at 66 Rock 'n' roll legend Tom Petty dies at 66 after suffering cardiac arrest in L.A. Remembering Tom Petty: Distinctive voice, quirky charm, immense talent In related news, Tom Petty evidently was not dead Monday afternoon, despite media reports that he was. Watch Video: Tom Petty: A look at the rock star's careerĭuring this time of anything-goes tweets from the White House, massive tragedy in the streets of Las Vegas and political backbiting of all kinds, it is more important than ever that the media get the story right.
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