Terrorism, reporting, comparative journalism, speed, accuracy, ethics, public interest journalism, editors
The job of balancing speed and accuracy is one of the most challenging tasks in covering breaking news. While journalists assert their expertise in this fast processing of information that passes the test of truthfulness, scholars sometimes disagree, arguing that it is more of a goal than as assured outcome of journalistic work. This balance claim continues to be one of the central tenets of reporting lore. However, journalists' approaches to covering terrorist attacks in the UK, US, France, Belgium, Australia and Russia indicate a more nuanced form of practice is evolving to suit changing circumstances. Our interviews with 28 mainstream media editors in these six countries reveal a more cautious approach to dispensing information when situations are still in flux and some information may be unclear, dangerous or even unhelpful.