Hey there everyone, it’s me again, your one-and-only, tell-it-like-it-is internet marketing guy.
Contrary to what some people may think, I still do watch television. Not as much as I used to, but I still do.
It sounds ironic because I’m an internet guy and I can get information on demand online, but there are a lot of times I still want my fix of CNN or CNBC, whichever channel I happen to be on. I’m not sure why, but for some reason, the news seems a bit more tolerable when you see it on TV.
It goes without saying that getting as much information as possible, as soon as possible, is quite important, especially if it’s the news. I know this because I know enough about journalism to believe that getting as much information to the public as fast as possible is not easy work.
This is because unless there is first hand eyewitness account to corroborate the facts, most of the details are still sketchy early on. This is why there is usually very little information when the stations break an important bit of news. News channels, or at least the reliable ones, will not reveal any information until it is confirmed as true and valid, which should pretty much be the case with every source of information in the various media.
I say this because when some breaking news hit the internet, say for instance the passing of the woman responsible for the soundtrack of my life, Whitney Houston, there are numerous sites that offer supposed “first hand information” on the details of her passing. Upon clicking on these sources, some turn out to be personal blogs, where embellishments can be commonplace, all in their efforts to get some sweet search engine and social media traffic flowing to their servers.
For shame people, a person has just died and already there are those who are not above twisting or adding to the facts just so they could get more readers.
This type of thing is really low, folks, so I really do hope you are not part of any fly-by-night “news blogs.” If you do provide some bits of news or information on your site, the prudent thing to do would be:
State the facts, skip the acts
Just post the information that you know to be confirmed and factual, make it a headline if need be. DO NOT embellish or add any details that you do not know for certain to be true. Confirmed bits of information that could be connected, such as reports of hospitalization, illness, or injury can be stated in your post if it seems to be related to the story, although there will be people who see this as nothing more than speculation on your part, so weigh your options well.
Give credit where it is due
There is no shame in pointing out your source, unless you are a known member of the paparazzi, in which case exclusivity is understandable. State where you got your information, this may even lend credence to your post, especially if your attribution is from a well known and reliable news agency.
Stress the facts and the figures
In the eventuality that you can give out nothing more than a headline as to what is reported to have happened, you can compliment it by adding some known facts about the event. If it is a personality, certain dates could be added just so as your post will have more meat. Details such as known date of birth or known age, number of children, surviving members of the family, and so forth. The same goes for any other informative piece you are offering to visitors, such as a whitepaper, or even an article about internet marketing. Give tried and tested facts and figures, not baseless opinions and personal suppositions.
If you happen to be on the other side of the spectrum, and you are just online to get more information that is available on the television, I also have a few tips for you just so you will not be taken for a ride by some sites with blatant exaggerations.
Compare and critique
If it’s breaking news, or even if it just happens to be general information, there must be more than one source on the internet, so try to seek more than one source. Compare the available information, but be ready for some discrepancy. This is to be expected, in the case of news that just happened, most sources could be just as much in the dark as you are, so details may vary from each source. Chances are, details which appear to be common from most sources are the ones that have been confirmed.
Check source credibility
I’m pretty sure most of you here, if not all, can discern if the source of the information looks like the website equivalent of a seedy bar, right? So I can also trust you guys to be able to tell if the site is really out there to give out information. I say this because I really don’t think a site that is supposed to just give out general information like news is supposed to ask for your email and other information from you. I cannot stress enough how you must be careful with your personal information when it comes to sites asking for it.
I’ll just leave these few suggestions here so they can sink in fully and not overwhelm you with too much information at this point. I will need to immerse myself in some 80s music to try and relive the times when people dressed ridiculously but listened to fantastic music. And yes, that era includes the amazing songs of Whitney Houston. Sing loud and proud, you will be missed.
Enjoy the music of life, people.
Andy “true grit” Jenkins
