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‘Heath Ledger’ as Told by New Media
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Inaccurate statements characterized the early reports of Heath Ledger’s death. To some, his demise has highlighted what is wrong with modern journalism.
30-Second Summary
The first to report on what happened were the Web reporters at Radar magazine: “We’re hearing a totally crazy rumor that Heath Ledger has been found dead of an overdose. It could be totally off-base, but if it’s not we want credit for ‘reporting’ it first.”
Media outlets stumbled over one another as facts—some erroneous—trickled into newsrooms. The mistaken initial report from a New York Police Department spokesperson that Ledger had died in Mary-Kate Olsen’s apartment was rapidly circulated from site to site around the world.
Some say this is typical of the way the Internet and 24-hour news coverage have changed the nature of reporting. The Internet disseminates rumors before they can be checked, and the blogs begin to voice their opinion before the facts are known. Heath Ledger’s death has prompted a number of writers to consider the state of the modern media.
Megan Garber from the Columbia Journalism Review writes, “If Web culture believes anything when it comes to much of its news coverage, it’s that talking can be just as important as saying something.”
Editor & Publisher magazine is of a similar opinion as to the negative effect of speed reporting: “Journalists have generally had hours—not minutes or seconds—to craft a story from the blast wave of facts and factoids that comes in the wake of a bombshell.”
Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune judges that the new media has lowered the standards of both journalists and their audience, as both race to consume the latest celebrity disaster.
“This kind of gossip, usually dispensed with detached snark, has never been more prevalent than it is today There was a time when it was mostly a guilty pleasure perused discreetly while waiting for a price check in the supermarket line,” writes Rosenthal.
Media outlets stumbled over one another as facts—some erroneous—trickled into newsrooms. The mistaken initial report from a New York Police Department spokesperson that Ledger had died in Mary-Kate Olsen’s apartment was rapidly circulated from site to site around the world.
Some say this is typical of the way the Internet and 24-hour news coverage have changed the nature of reporting. The Internet disseminates rumors before they can be checked, and the blogs begin to voice their opinion before the facts are known. Heath Ledger’s death has prompted a number of writers to consider the state of the modern media.
Megan Garber from the Columbia Journalism Review writes, “If Web culture believes anything when it comes to much of its news coverage, it’s that talking can be just as important as saying something.”
Editor & Publisher magazine is of a similar opinion as to the negative effect of speed reporting: “Journalists have generally had hours—not minutes or seconds—to craft a story from the blast wave of facts and factoids that comes in the wake of a bombshell.”
Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune judges that the new media has lowered the standards of both journalists and their audience, as both race to consume the latest celebrity disaster.
“This kind of gossip, usually dispensed with detached snark, has never been more prevalent than it is today There was a time when it was mostly a guilty pleasure perused discreetly while waiting for a price check in the supermarket line,” writes Rosenthal.
Headline Link: ‘Heath Ledger Autopsy Inconclusive’
Heath Ledger, 28, was found dead in his New York apartment. Initial speculation pointed to a drug overdose. It was also reported that Mr. Ledger had been ill, possibly with pneumonia.
Source: findingDulcinea
Background: Writing obits for the young and beautiful
Ledger’s death comes shortly after it was revealed that the Associated Press has already penned an obituary for 26-year-old singer Britney Spears.
Source: Associated Press
In her obituary for Heath Ledger, Slate movie critic Dana Stevens opines on the difficulties of writing eulogies honoring celebrities who die young. “The deadline is, by definition, past, and you know you've already been scooped countless times,” she writes. In the obit, she chooses to analyze what exactly Ledger gave to movies that no other actor could replace.
Source: Slate
Opinion & Analysis: The new media
Phil Rosenthal, the Chicago Tribune’s media columnist, writes on how new media has fueled America’s thirst for 24-hour news coverage Rosenthal argues this puts greater pressure on those in the public eye. Now that there is that much more air time to be filled, even the most mundane facets of the lives of celebrities receive media attention. The dissemination of misinformation that came about at the time of Heath Ledger’s death was symptomatic of this. Rosenthal writes, “This kind of gossip, usually dispensed with detached snark, has never been more prevalent than it is today. There was a time when it was mostly a guilty pleasure perused discreetly while waiting for a price check in the supermarket line. Now it’s only a click away during a slow moment at school or at the office.”
Source: Chicago Tribune
Media analysis magazine Editor & Publisher writes how the Internet has paved the way to instantaneous—and often erroneous—reporting. “Here’s the problem: Stories have never arrived to the world fully formed or vetted. Journalists have generally had hours—not minutes or seconds—to craft a story from the blast wave of facts and factoids that comes in the wake of a bombshell.”
Source: Editor and Publisher
The Columbia Journalism Review notes that Web reporters can operate at greater speeds than their paper-bound forebears. This causes print and broadcast media to rush through the reporting process and consequently make mistakes. Writes Megan Garber, “If Web culture believes anything when it comes to much of its news coverage, it’s that talking can be just as important as saying something.”
Source: Columbia Journalism Review
Reference Materials: Radar magazine
Radar magazine was among the first to hint at Heath Ledger’s death. The original article is here.
Source: Radar
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