Ayala Panievsky discusses journalists' myopic focus on ratings
Ayala Panievsky, Cambridge Gates Scholar and former Haaretz reporter discusses the dangers of journalists' myopic focus on short term ratings.
“I’ve heard a lot about ratings from journalists. …Journalists go ‘that’s what the public wants.” …
I think that many journalists, especially journalists under attack in various countries today, need to think not only in the short term, not only about tomorrow’s ratings. …
In the long run, [giving airtime to actors who spread inflammatory lies, to chase ratings, provides] “so much power, …to positions of power they could never dream of, thanks to this exposure and legitimacy that they gained. And then they go after the media.
So, even in terms of self-preserving news outlets, think long term. Authoritarianism is not good for journalism.”
Excerpted from the Journalism & Democratic Backsliding discussion, 19 October 2023, available at: • Journalism & Democratic Backsliding: thoug...