In today’s 24/7 cable and social media dominated journalism, what establishes credibility? Is it production and performance value? Is it arrogantly articulated opinion? Is it factual reporting?
It seems to me that many news producers today think that fast talking, stern sounding anchors and reporters are the key to holding interest and preventing viewers from tuning away. And fast paced anchoring has led to abruptly interrupting expert guests, all in order to keep the program moving faster and faster.
My television interview coaches told me that my job was to focus audience attention on my guests… and not to constantly interrupt them. They argued that my credibility was mostly established by asking the right basic questions, and then giving the guest a fair chance to fully answer those questions.
In addition, emphasis on speed leads to reporting events too quickly. And when initial reports prove wrong it’s now acceptable practice to get the story out first and correct it later. In the end, is this good modern journalism, or sloppy reporting?
When speed and entertainment become dominant objectives, attention shifts to grooming celebrity anchors and reporters. Increasing emphasis on the dramatic is the result, which leads to pitting glib guests with contrasting agendas against each other rather than having civilized conversations with subject matter experts.
As a strategic communication practitioner I often experienced celebrity reporters using the best of what I said as their introductory comments, and then showing me in a very short edited video clip selected out-of-context.
So in this new media world will anything restore news credibility? I submit that it will require a predominance of experienced anchors and reporters taking the time to sound and look authoritative at less than warp speed, selecting their interviewees based on established expertise. And oh yes, they will also let these highly qualified guests fully answer their carefully crafted questions.
Happily, I am noticing that many fast-talking anchors today are turning over quickly. They are young and attractive, but under too much pressure to look like experts far too soon. And even if this emphasis on drama and style worked for a while, has it really served the public interest, or has it merely put the interests of the organization first… frustrating the public more and more each day?
Many of us are now observing that social media is beginning to take on a much more balanced perspective in our lives. If this is so, isn’t it time for 24/7 news to follow?
Larry D. Lauer 
Larry, Is there an anchor out there you consider to meet the criteria for credibility?
Certainly Bob Schieffer and Charlie Rose do. Several on CNN International do as well. But I am mostly asking what establishes/diminishes news anchor/reporter credibility, and think that the “rapid talk, and then frequently interrupt” style diminishes the credibility of all who use it. LL