So suggests Michael Kinsley in his piece “Cut This Story!” in the January/Febuary 2010 edition of the Atlantic. In an interesting twist of meta-analysis, this (not particularly short) article offers a compelling argument for rethinking the lengthy conventions of traditional newspaper reporting. He provides an alternative theory for why digital media is replacing print among news seekers: the internet gets to the point.
Without the dull, verbose quotes (often those of unfamiliar characters) responsible for turning an editorial into a true piece of reporting, and “context” repeated so often most readers would say, “duh!”, a good newspaper story may actually be straightforward and concise. These remnants of “legacy code” unfortunately continue to push the instant gratification generation closer towards the brevity of 140 character updates.
Poets can say a lot in a few words, but newspaper reporting shouldn’t have to. There is, however, something to be said for the reinvention of the conventions. Keep the research and writing strong, but remember to consider your audience. The most obvious mistake a communicator can make is forgetting who your audience really is. The answer may change, and with it should your writing. We encourage clients to consider their audience, and we as advisers develop our strategy to reach that target.
