The new rules of tech journalism
1 November 2013
Harry Marks has set out some New Rules of Tech Journalism that, if adopted, would greatly improve the standard of tech news reporting.
It's an excellent list, but to my eye had one glaring omission:
16. Never take a survey at face value.
Before you blithely report the results of a survey under an attention-grabbing headline, check:
If for no other reason, you should do this for the good of John Moltz' blood pressure.
- • that your headline actually reflects the survey results - John Moltz has some great examples;
- • if the author might have a vested interest in the results - see these from Jon Gruber and Moltz;
- • whether the results of the survey make sense - one from The Loop just yesterday; and
- • whether the survey has any merit whatsoever - Moltz again.