theNoosphere.com - View Single Post - Journalism, Attention Spans, the Internet, Mediocrity and a few other things

Bishop · 02-07-10, 11:45 AM

I have sat on this subject for a while, letting my thoughts percolate. As an English Major, a book-lover, and someone who now makes his living as a Technical Writer, this subject hits close to home. A little too close. Consequently, I could have written a dissertation on it, but decided it was better to let my thoughts settle out and just write what rose to the top.

Over the years, I have seen a decline in good writing of all kinds, not just sports journalism. Since I started keeping track six months ago, one of my favorite technology sites has only managed to produce one completely error-free article. And I don't mean subtle errors like who vs. whom or the difference between a lectern and a podium (look it up!) that everyone misses, but glaringly obvious errors that are the result of hurried copy/paste sentence rearrangement, or typing too fast, or just simply not proof-reading before posting.

Part of it may be the "sound bite" mentality of the media. But I think a larger part has to do with the "good enough" mentality of most Americans, combined with the "need it now" push of business and marketing.

As Boone pointed out so well in his latest blog entry, anything worth doing is worth doing well. But that's not the attitude in this country anymore. Now, everything should be done as quickly as possible. Getting it done NOW is more important than getting it done RIGHT. Journalism is especially susceptible to this premise, since if someone else gets the story out first, then you've already "lost".

I disagree with Hostile's implication that good writing has to be long. He states, "If you didn't bother to read the article you don't need to read any further. You prove the point." I didn't bother to read the article because, quite frankly, I could make the argument that Hostile exhibited BAD writing here. If you write 1100+ words and can't make your point without also "quoting" still another article of 7000+ words, then you are failing to properly focus on your point. Or worse yet, you are belaboring the point. Good writing CAN be short and sweet. (And I'm also a Cowboys fan, living in Dallas, so I'm not just picking on Hostile.

)

The final problem I see which I believe has contributed to the deterioration of quality writing is that everyone thinks they can do it. Owning an expensive camera does not mean you will be able to take good photographs. Just the same, owning a word processor and being able to speak the language does not mean you will be able to write well. But the ease of "publication" provided by the Internet means there a lot of poor writers out there who managed to get the job of writing.

One of my favorite cartoonists, Jef Mallett, author of Frazz, recently summed it up perfectly. He said, ". . . anybody with any education can write. Anybody can cut hair, too. The trick with either is to do it well, and for some reason people have a lot more confidence in their writing than their barbering."

02-07-10, 11:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bishop In the Fold Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 130	Re: Journalism, Attention Spans, the Internet, Mediocrity and a few other things I have sat on this subject for a while, letting my thoughts percolate. As an English Major, a book-lover, and someone who now makes his living as a Technical Writer, this subject hits close to home. A little too close. Consequently, I could have written a dissertation on it, but decided it was better to let my thoughts settle out and just write what rose to the top. Over the years, I have seen a decline in good writing of all kinds, not just sports journalism. Since I started keeping track six months ago, one of my favorite technology sites has only managed to produce one completely error-free article. And I don't mean subtle errors like who vs. whom or the difference between a lectern and a podium (look it up!) that everyone misses, but glaringly obvious errors that are the result of hurried copy/paste sentence rearrangement, or typing too fast, or just simply not proof-reading before posting. Part of it may be the "sound bite" mentality of the media. But I think a larger part has to do with the "good enough" mentality of most Americans, combined with the "need it now" push of business and marketing. As Boone pointed out so well in his latest blog entry, anything worth doing is worth doing well. But that's not the attitude in this country anymore. Now, everything should be done as quickly as possible. Getting it done NOW is more important than getting it done RIGHT. Journalism is especially susceptible to this premise, since if someone else gets the story out first, then you've already "lost". I disagree with Hostile's implication that good writing has to be long. He states, "If you didn't bother to read the article you don't need to read any further. You prove the point." I didn't bother to read the article because, quite frankly, I could make the argument that Hostile exhibited BAD writing here. If you write 1100+ words and can't make your point without also "quoting" still another article of 7000+ words, then you are failing to properly focus on your point. Or worse yet, you are belaboring the point. Good writing CAN be short and sweet. (And I'm also a Cowboys fan, living in Dallas, so I'm not just picking on Hostile. ) The final problem I see which I believe has contributed to the deterioration of quality writing is that everyone thinks they can do it. Owning an expensive camera does not mean you will be able to take good photographs. Just the same, owning a word processor and being able to speak the language does not mean you will be able to write well. But the ease of "publication" provided by the Internet means there a lot of poor writers out there who managed to get the job of writing. One of my favorite cartoonists, Jef Mallett, author of Frazz, recently summed it up perfectly. He said, ". . . anybody with any education can write. Anybody can cut hair, too. The trick with either is to do it well, and for some reason people have a lot more confidence in their writing than their barbering."