Commentary

Social Media Posing As TV Journalism: Who's Your Editor?

Once again we come to an example of how social media isn’t about journalism, but about the average person/average celebrity’s viewpoint -- sometimes snarky, sometimes lame. It isn’t necessarily about facts -- though that maybe part of the equation.

Seems that Canadian sports network TSN ran an automated scroll of tweets about the NHL. And one tweeter decided to blurb out an alleged extramarital affair concerning two Toronto Maple Leafs players and one celebrity actress.

Nice. Now, all parties are angry -- not just about the massive untruth in it all, but that TSN would let this content make it onto its airwaves unchecked.

Mind you, this isn’t journalism. Any good journalist confirms facts to get the real story -- or not, in which case the story doesn’t make it for publication.

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No matter. Countless actors/athletes/big personalities have made lots of mistakes in this regard, only to write -- maybe -- an apology, correction, or some other meaningless retort.

Bigger question: How many TV networks/stations have someone minding the store when it comes to these automated, social media, bottom-third-of-the-screen scrolls? Letting through opinions for sure. But unconfirmed news?

Consumers might have no problem in considering this content -- raw, unconfirmed stuff – in, say, their  Twitter feed. But mixing this content with TV news/information without going through a vetting process is dangerous.

This has the potential to give TV execs headaches for years to come. Do you have an editor for your social media on-screen content? Just asking.

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