Feeding the Beast

Who or what is the "beast"?

The "beast" is the audience. The readers, listeners, and viewers who will pay attention to what the news media puts out there.

Why does it need to be fed?

The audience needs to be fed because if they are not, they will turn to another feeding ground. The information and trust that is built between the "beast" and its news source is important and essential to keep the "beast's" attention.

What compromises (if any) might occur in trying to feed the 24-hour news cycle in print, TV and the Internet?

There could be a discrepancy between the original journalistic work and the 24-hour news cycle, TV or the Internet. It is important that the immediate news sources maintain a journalistic approach, give credit where credit is due and report the facts. These sources also need to establish and maintain a trust with other news sources to keep their processes running smoothly. Twenty-four-hour news cycle in print, TV and the Internet have to be careful not to compromise the facts and not to rush potentially harmful/inaccurate information into circulation.

Not only must these outlets maintain a trust with sources, they must also maintain a viewer/reader/listener trust. If this trust is violated, the news outlet's credibility will deteriorate.