It’s always an important number — the primary thermometer of how the economy is doing. This time around it will attract even more attention, given the market anxiety over the Fed’s September interest rate decision.
For business news outfits, it’s become a two-front fight.
Speed used to be the primary contest: Who could get the number up the fastest. And that still matters. If your competitors have that number up on the screen and you don’t, you look out of step. Also in these days of Web algorithms, speed is typically rewarded with better search placement.
So if you are after audience in terms of viewers and clicks, you have to be fast (and accurate, obviously). It’s a test of execution.
But speed to report isn’t the total winner anymore. Indeed, many a Twitter feed can now defeat most news organizations’ TV, radio or Web flashes.
More and more the contest is now becoming about “speed to context” or who can provide the most relevant, on-point analysis the fastest. It’s less about “what it is” and more about “what it means.”
Different platforms have different inherent advantages here. And shortcomings. Here are some:
Speed and intelligence often don’t go together. It usually takes some time to think things through. Nevertheless, our immediate-gratification world has made that the contest. So this Friday, watch to see who can be fast AND smart.
Allen Wastler is the former managing editor of CNBC.com and the former managing editor of CNNMoney.com. He can be reached at awastler@gmail.com.
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