Clickbait QT68

Guideline:

Journalists should present relevant information in context so the audience has adequate information on which to base decisions. Context is just as important as factual accuracy and can help readers fully understand an issue and its relevance to their daily lives.

 

Stance:
Clickbait has little relevance to what readers need to know. It provides a diversion.

Reasoning/suggestions:

Ben Frampton writes in Clickbait: The changing face of online journalism “Put simply, it is a headline which tempts the reader to click on the link to the story. But the name is used pejoratively to describe headlines which are sensationalised, turn out to be adverts or are simply misleading.”

The article sites Peter Preston, the former Guardian editor and Observer columnist “You certainly want your journalists to be thinking how they get the maximum level of interest … it seems on one hand it’s pretty stupid to not make sure your journalists are doing their best to serve their readers.”

Clickbait has little relevance to what readers need to know. It provides a diversion.

Resources:

Infotainment, JEA Curriculum

Clickbait: The changing face of online journalism, Ben Frampton, BBC

What is Clickbait?, Nieman Journalism Lab