First Draft by Tim Porter

Covering the Coverage

Staci Kramer, an editor and columnist with the Online Journalism Review, generally praises how newspapers' online news operations handled coverage of the space shuttle Columbia.

She points out how the newspapers in the racks on Saturday "seemed hopelessly outdated" by the technology-driven information revolution that had occurred since the Challenger disaster in 1986.

Kramer at once lauds the Internet as source of information and communication and chastens its adherents for spreading rumor and misinformation under the guise of fact.

She also dismisses as "poppycock" the notion put forth in the Blogosphere, and reported by the New York Times, that "conventional media … does not have the variety of technical talent" needed to provide multimedia coverage to such an event.

Kramer adds: "In fact, much of the information being shared on blogs and in communal discussions as awareness about Columbia spread came from 'conventional' media outlets. It's not that I think everything the mainstream media does is right; it's just that I don't see journalism through the us versus them filter so many seemed determined to employ."

Agreed. And that's not poppycock.

Links
 Staci Kramer Shuttle Disaster Coverage Mixed, but Strong Overall
 New York Times A Wealth of Information Online

Posted by Tim Porter at February 3, 2003 09:17 AM