Why Do TV News Give Brief Reports and Newspapers Provide More Details?

During my time at the German School of Journalism, I also received training as a news presenter. An essential lesson I learned was that it takes about three minutes to speak a text with 2,000 characters. This insight led me to explore the different formats of information dissemination in the news industry, specifically between television and newspapers.

Analysis of the New York Times

For a closer look, I recently surfed the New York Times website to examine the news. One example that caught my attention is a 2,000 character snippet from their article:

Elon Musk’s Twitter Poll and the Company’s Turbulent Days

Over the weekend, Elon Musk posed a question to Twitter users regarding his future as the head of the social media site. The poll garnered over 17 million votes, with 57.5% of respondents favoring Musk's resignation. The outcome was clear and decisive, reflecting a substantial shift in public opinion. Following the closure of the 12-hour poll, Musk promised to respect the results. However, there has been no immediate response from him on Twitter yet.

If Musk honors his commitment, it will mark a significant transition, as the company he acquired for $44 billion late last year is currently experiencing a series of challenges. Turbulence has been a defining feature since his acquisition, including mass layoffs, plummeting ad sales, and even the suspension of high-profile user accounts. Recent developments, such as the ban on sharing links and usernames from other social platforms and the suspension of journalists' accounts, have further underscored the chaotic environment.

Information Density in News Formats

Understanding such detailed information from a written text alone can be challenging, especially during live broadcasts. When crafting content for spoken words, journalists must use short and simple sentences with added redundancies to ensure comprehension. For example, a text that takes three minutes to deliver in person can cover far fewer topics when stretched to ten minutes, limiting the depth of coverage.

The density of information is inherently lower in television news broadcasts compared to newspapers. This difference is significant, and there are specific exceptions to this rule. For instance, a video capturing the explosion of the Challenger space shuttle would provide a clearer and more impactful account compared to a written story. However, if the goal is to delve into the reasons behind the disaster, text becomes more advantageous for in-depth analysis.

Unique Situations and Exceptions

Occasionally, the most effective way to convey a story depends on the specific circumstances. For example, when reporting on a complex event like the Challenger disaster, a video can be more intuitive and impactful than a detailed text. Conversely, when the focus is on the underlying causes or detailed analysis, text is often more suitable. The key is to balance the medium with the nature of the story and the audience's needs.

Conclusion

The distinction between the concise reports found on television and the detailed articles in newspapers is a reflection of the different audiences and mediums in which news is consumed. While television offers a more visual and immediate experience, newspapers provide a platform for in-depth analysis and sustained engagement. Both formats play crucial roles in the news landscape, each catering to distinct reader preferences and the ways in which information is best presented.