The Hourly Opinion Cycle

We’ve lived in a world that has gone from a 24 hour news cycle to an hourly news cycle that has been ravenous for content to fill specialised news channels.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed that the hourly news cycle and has been replaced with the hourly opinion cycle.

Many news outlets have subtly (and not so subtly) shifted beyond reporting the news, to broadcasting opinion pieces in the news.

This is potentially a big deal for your church. How the ‘media’ perceives your church or key spokesperson no longer will rely just on news reporting, but on opinion pieces.

The recent Rob Bell interview with Martin Bashir is a great example. Martin is clearly letting his opinions lead his questioning – which makes for a much more aggressive and combative style of interview.

While you may not have an issue yet that is 'opinion-worthy' (not news worthy). It will come.

What are you doing to train yourself to manage the media when it comes knocking? Comment below

 

5 comments

  1. News or opinion, if the media outlet have a set on you and want you to be the villian, there’s not much you can do about it (speaking from hard experience!)

  2. Hi Steve, I don’t think I agree that the Bashir interview was about opinions. I think (and listening to an interview with Bashir afterwards) it was his research before the interview and his journalistic integrity that led him to interview the way that he did. He was familiar with what Christians believe, and continued to question Bell when Bell refused to answer the question – it’s what good journalists do.
    The opinion cycle is real, but I don’t think that the Bell interview was an example of this. Good discussion on opinions dominating news on Monday night’s Q&A.

  3. Hey Steve,
    I’d disagree. martin isn’t reporting news, he is an opinion shaper and maker through the line of questioning he takes. An interviewer. He comes with his own bias which came out in the post interview/interview.

  4. I think his bias was that he suspected (based on his research) that what Bell was claiming wasn’t part of orthodox Christianity. His interview was pursuing this suspicion, and he wasn’t tolerating a dodging of the questions. You’re right though – he’s an interviewer (and not a reporter for 7’s nightly news).

  5. I dont agree Steve. I think he knew what the news was….and was trying to get it out of someone who did not want to give a straight answer….and this coming from someone who has read, used and loved Bells previous material

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