Beast Of Burden

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: 4th Estate Debate

(AP Photo /Eddie Keogh)

"The fear of missing out means today's media, more than ever before, hunts in a pack. In these modes it is like a feral beast, just tearing people and reputations to bits. But no one dares miss out."

--Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in a speech at the London offices of Reuters, as quoted by the New York Times.

More Blair: "The media are facing a hugely more intense form of competition than anything they have ever experienced before. They are not the masters of this change but its victims. The result is a media that increasingly and to a dangerous degree is driven by 'impact.' Impact is what matters. It is all that can distinguish, can rise above the clamor, can get noticed. Impact gives competitive edge. Of course, the accuracy of a story counts. But it is secondary to impact."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by cktirumalai June 13, 2007 2:49 PM EDT: It is interesting that in his critical assessment of the media, whose urgent and heated atmosphere, he argued, made it harder for political leaders to arrive at sound decisions, Tony Balir admitted that he himself had courted the media in his earlier, successful years. One lesson of the past is that when people lose their power they have new or different perceptions. Shakespeare's "King Lear" is eloquent on this subject.; Reply to this comment


by ronmwanga June 13, 2007 2:31 AM EDT: %u201CThe fear of missing out means today%u2019s media, more than ever before, hunts in a pack. In these modes it is like a feral beast .." From the perspective, to be sure, of a voluntary politician, AKA "media prey." Not to discount any of the outgoing Prime Minister's points. Impact matters greatly, probably moreso among the Fleet Streeters, but there are always the "Frontline's," the "Lehrer news Hours," the BBC News, and all the other thoughtful media resources that supply context for those willing to seek them out. Methinks Mr. Blair, taking advantage of one last opportunity to exact revenge against a mainly negative press corps, doth protest too much.

Ron Mwangaguhunga; Reply to this comment

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