News About Turkeys, not Turkey
by David Schlessinger, Editor-In-Chief of Reuters
I once went to an interesting forum. Harvard Professor Joseph Nye spoke on "soft power" in the information age.
"Soft power" is a concept Nye developed. It deals with a person's ability to persuade and attract others to do what you want. This is the opposite of "hard power," or force.
At one point, Nye complained that the news during a stay in London was dominated by "turkeys and not Turkey." The local media mostly covered an outbreak of avian flu on a farm in rural England. There was a near complete absence of "foreign" news.
His point was that, in an information age, people need good access to a variety of information from all over in order to make informed decisions. News reports of nearly all local stories do not give people the tools they need to work in this globalizing world.
The balance of news that people want and that news providers give changes by location. It also changes by the degree to which people are personally affected by a story. You cannot force people to read something they just do not care about.
The spread of the avian flu and its potential mutation is a global story and not just a local one. The key is keeping this story in context. Make sure it is not the only world story you report on!
Like any story, it needs the right balance of expertise, accuracy, balance, and insight.
In a world of "soft power," these are the things that separate journalism from propaganda. They are what separate information from belief.
In order to fully understand and navigate the globalized world, people need access to a variety of news and information from all over the world. This includes news about countries like Turkey, and not just stories about turkeys (referring to a specific incident involving avian flu in rural England).
Harvard Professor Joseph Nye, known for his concept of "soft power," which focuses on the ability to persuade and attract others rather than using force, emphasized the importance of a balanced news coverage during a forum. Nye argued that the dominance of local stories in the media limits people's access to information and hinders their ability to make informed decisions in a global context.
The balance of news coverage varies depending on location and the personal relevance of a story to individuals. It is important for news providers to consider these factors and offer a variety of news stories that cater to the diverse interests and information needs of their audience.
The avian flu outbreak serves as an example of a global story that should be reported on, but not at the expense of other important world news. It is crucial to provide accurate and balanced coverage of such stories, with insights and expertise, in order to set journalism apart from propaganda and to provide information rather than mere belief.
Overall, the article highlights the importance of diverse and balanced news coverage in the information age, to ensure that individuals are well-informed and equipped to navigate the complexities of a globalized world.
The article discusses the concept of "soft power" developed by Harvard Professor Joseph Nye, which refers to the ability to persuade and attract others rather than using force. The author recalls Nye's complaint about the dominance of local news in London, specifically an outbreak of avian flu on a farm, while neglecting global news, particularly news about Turkey.
Nye's point is that in the information age, people need access to diverse information from all over the world to make informed decisions. Local news alone does not provide the necessary tools to navigate a globalized world.
The author emphasizes the importance of balance in news reporting. The amount of coverage given to different stories varies by location and the personal impact on individuals. People cannot be forced to read news they are not interested in.
The article highlights that the avian flu outbreak is not just a local story but a global one. However, it should be reported in context and not become the sole focus of news reporting. The author emphasizes that good journalism requires expertise, accuracy, balance, and insight, which differentiate it from propaganda and distinguish information from mere belief.