Around the Wire: The Problem with Pointing, The Power of a Good Story & More Media News

Welcome to Around the Wire, PR Newswire’s round up of journalism, blogging and freelancing stories from the week.

Photo by stevendepolo; used under CC BY 2.0

1. When April Fools’ Day Goes Wrong (Poynter)

While it may be fun around the house or with friends, pulling an April Fools’ prank as a journalist can be very tricky. Not only do many of them flop, they also have the ability to cause serious damage to your brand. Something that may land you and your employer in hot water. Proceed with caution when it comes to pranks.

2. The Problem of Pointing in Modern Journalism (big think)

Something the advent of social journalism has expanded upon is the fake story. Call it a hoax or misinformation, whatever the case, they are given life due to the expansive reach of social media. Last fall saw more than 1,500 articles produced around rumors.

These rumors lead to “pointing,” an outlet referencing an anonymous source from an article and passing the information along without verifying it. It’s a dangerous practice in the age of digital journalism, where a story can become viral in a matter of moments.

3. Good Stories Still Rule in Journalism’s Wired Era (Huffington Post)

Though the landscape has changed, one thing remains the same. When it comes to journalism, a well written story still reigns supreme. And incredibly, in the age of 140 characters, length isn’t a damaging factor.

Last week, The Power of Narrative conference took place at Boston College and brought together a plethora of media professionals from around the world. A surprising sentiment that resonated throughout the conference: Content is still king. No matter how much has changed, readers still appreciate a well written story.

4. Jeffrey Brown’s Advice for Young Journalists? Expect the Unexpected (PBS NewsHour Rundown)

A little bit of advice never hurt anyone — especially when it comes from someone like Jeffrey Brown, PBS NewsHour’s chief correspondent for arts and culture.

Brown sat down recently for a Q&A with journalism students on Facebook. He addressed a number of different subjects, including censorship, blogging, and educational paths.

5. Media News and Moves for the Week of March 30 (PR Newswire’s Media Moves)

Media Moves keeps you up to date with who went where in the world of media. This week’s edition includes a number of changes at TIME, a new editorial director at NPR, and additions to the Bloomberg Television staff.

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Ryan Hansen manages social media at PR Newswire, keeping up with the latest trends in media, PR, marketing and social.  Follow him @RPH2004 for tweets about the industry, food, and his general take on something that may be irrelevant.