A 'Press Release' IS NOT 'News'?
@mythociate (21432)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
January 30, 2019 7:44am CST
The *Oklahoma Gazette* has been running self-promos announcing 'how genuine they are' ... I remember one about 'how they're "not owned by an out-of-state Fat Cat"' (the slogan of the campaign is "FIERCELY LOCAL & INDEPENDENT").
But this recent self-promo is "news" to me! It says "All Press. No Release. OKG never publishes press releases as news. Because we're, you know, real journalists. (Fiercely Local and Independent)"
I ... I guess I've gotten used to watching 'press conferences' on the news (in which the "journalists" attempt to 'report the news' by the leading-questions they ask). I sort of forget that 'press releases' are even-more "just advertising for the group that releases it."
Also reminds me that "Journalism" might be more about 'what the public needs to know' than 'what the public person's private reality is.'
http://preformus.blogspot.com/2018/10/journalism-journalist-photojournalism.html
Is that about right?
2 people like this
2 responses
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
30 Jan 19
I often wonder as I've been on both sides (releasing press releases and well reading them). I find them to be in the same boat as press conferences. Ultimately they are a point in timepiece focused on share what the press officer things they want to share.
1 person likes this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
30 Jan 19
I suppose that a press release is what the person in the news wants the public to know, and this is not necessarily the truth of the matter. An independent journalist would seek to find the facts for himself and not rely on the biased account given in a press release.
Having said that, when a story arises it is important for all the parties involved to have their say. A press release may be the means by which that say is given.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
30 Jan 19
Yes, but a lot of (quote-unquote) "news" sources basically reprint 'press releases' and call them "news."
Not to defend him, but this is a possible reason why President Trump calls 'news-groups that reprint or broadcast his words' "Fake News"---it seems like they never report on Trump's actions without 'calling him out' on the words he said that don't match the actions.
