When I first found out about the live-blogging assignment, I was a bit skeptical. Obviously, live-blogging an American Forum is just a way to practice this type of news gathering; rarely are those forums that leave-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat intense. Live-blogging is not for every news event, but after actually doing it, I realized even more of its shortcomings.
When the forum first started, I began typing away as if I were just taking notes, but then found myself trying to type full sentences. As I went back to make sure the sentences actually made sense, I noticed how much information I was missing in the meantime. Not every bit of information was necessary to get down, of course, but I realized just how much I was missing by trying to write in complete sentences rather than in my strange shorthand that no one else can understand. I was missing good quotes left and right, and I couldn't truly appreciate Chuck Lewis' mild-mannered sparring with Roger Aronoff over the difference between making "false statements" and telling "lies" in reference to the Bush administration. I could insert enough of my own perceptions about the mood of the panel, but trying to get everything down in real time took away from the depth with which how I normally cover events.
It's important to update to the Web as often as possible as a news organization in this competitive business, for sure. I do, however, think there is something to be said for taking the extra few minutes to make sure that the information you jotted down is correct factually and orthographically. You can live blog a Clinton-Obama debate and be the first to comment on a funny face Hillary made or an angry tone voiced by Obama, but when journalism becomes too much of a competition to catch a newsy sound bite first, a lot more can be lost in the news gathering process. Michael Massing, one of the panelists, even made a comment about live blogging and how bloggers are more prone to miss details and get facts incorrect because of the time demand on them. I don't think he realized how close to home he was hitting, considering about half of his audience was doing just that.
It is only natural that journalism moves toward the Web as technology advances, as this class has taught us so far. However, I think it's paramount that everyone who is even considering becoming a journalist thinks about the inherent pros and cons of a 24-hour news cycle while starting out his or her career. Breaking news is something every journalist has to deal with, but the basic principles of seeking the truth and reporting it should not be completely overshadowed by the race to be first.
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