Why accurate trumps first

CNN scared the nation Friday morning by mistaking a Coast Guard training exercise for a potential terrorist attack. The problem: CNN didn’t verify anything before putting it on the air. This from Al’s Morning Meeting on the Poynter Institute site:

Reputable news organizations reporting bad information appears to be a growing problem in the American news media. Some newsrooms are cutting corners by not
verifying information. Others are recycling incorrect information by simply reposting the work of others on their Web sites. Although cable news programs face a certain pressure to be first and fill a lot of time with breaking news, all newsrooms can stumble in the race to be first. The skill of verifying facts is more important than ever. And it may be the only thing that elevates journalism above the rest of the noise on the Internet.