"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message

Are their deadlines measured in hours or minutes like pressroom
reporters
are?

I've often wondered why getting the story first trumped getting the story
right.

Capitalism, and the fact (or theory, at least) that the news source the
reports a story FIRST is the one that people follow the most. But, your
question is valid. The editor exists as the moderator between the
publisher's demand for information NOW and the reporter's human capacity to
report accurate information in increasingly shorter periods of time.

The publisher (and the advertisers) demand the information pronto. The
reporter has to get it all as accurately as possible, and it's the editor's
job to fact-check EVERY story at the last minute. If he/she misses a
deadline it is likely to cost the publication money and the editor his job.

-c