It may not be the subject that’s confusing, but how you report that subject … and that’s something you need to remember in whatever medium you use to report the news.
I came across a good example of this while perusing this story on the KWES-TV website. It reported that an early voting location confused some voters in Midland County.
Okay … good story … apparently. Ever since the 2000 debacle in Florida, there has been increased emphasis nationwide on making voter participation simpler, more efficient and more accountable. The only problem with this particular story, though, was this previous report by KWES, that Midland College (general) was the location for early voting … neglecting to mention that the location was actually MC’s Cogdell Learning Center (specific).They could have mentioned it … the specific location was mentioned in similar reports by other television and newspaper websites at the time.
Having worked at KWES-TV for many years in the past, I know the people there are first-rate, and would normally pay attention to the details – hey, that’s part of how they got to be #1. And I don't mean to single-out one news department's website ... all the local sites slip-up and miss details such as this at one time or another.
But it does provide a good example of one of the many things to keep in mind when writing a news script, whether it’s print or radio, television or internet. The Devil is in the details, many of us have been reminded at one time or another … and it's something we ALL need to remember, whatever our profession or past-time.
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2 comments:
That's a good catch, Jeff. They should rehire you.
As for voting locations, it's easy to get confused. On election days my precinct votes at a certain location, unless it's at another location. They alternate between sites, apparently because neither owner will give it up. Frustrating.
George, frustrating, yes ... but also vital ... I'm glad you'll go the distance ... sadly, not everyone does.
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