As always, there are legitimate questions about media coverage of some of the big events, with some genuine concerns raised about the way Metiria Turei's political career was targeted and destroyed, and these are issues that deserve to be considered and discussed.
But all of that stuff - all of the problematic issues - don't matter in the moment when it comes to breaking news, because it's such a fucking rush getting it out there into the world. From the first burst of info coming through, to the moment all the news has been shared on air, or on the website, it is a heady rush of activity that can leave you shaking.
Some journos are in the game almost purely for this rush, getting the cheapest of thrills through the simple sharing of information. For these poor souls, a sudden, huge breaking story - especially when it doesn't actually involve anything horrifically tragic - beats any drug in the world.
It can also be hugely stressful, trying to get something out when all your competitors are also trying to beat your arse to informing the public, and when your boss is leaning over your shoulder, wondering what's taking so bloody long. This stress is unavoidable under such huge time pressures, but reporters, editors and producers need to keep their shit together, and above all, keep calm.
After all, the best bit in the original Matrix film isn't the crazy kung fu, or Agent Smith's contemptible sneer, or the bit where Keanu Reeves falls down the rabbit hole. It the part where everything is turning to shit and Morpheus' crew starts to freak out, and the big man simply, bluntly, tells them to 'be calm'. And then, without missing a beat, he works the fucking problem.
Morpheus may have a stick up his butt the size of the Sky Tower, but it's a good, simple mantra to follow when the shit hits the fan. It's no use freaking out when a big news story suddenly drops into your lap, it doesn't help anybody.You've just got to work fast and smart, and get it out there as soon as you can. Freaking out over it will just make it harder, and slower.
The human voice is still the best communications technology we have, and will still be used to instantly share information across a newsroom. You'll hear a bit of that when it's all going down, but most journos involved will just have no time for chat - when they're getting the story out there, the volume around a newsroom should be more of a sustained hum than an elongated shriek.
This does, unsurprisingly, freak out some older journos who still miss the incessant clatter of typewriters, and loud shouting from old-school chief reporters, but when it comes to big breaking news, seconds really do matter. Nobody has got no time for anything too noisy, and the journos involved are too busy getting the job done for anything else. Calmness reigns, because it has to.
Mind you, for all Morpheus' calmness, he still gets the living snot beaten out of him by Agent Smith in their bathroom fight, so maybe we shouldn't be putting too much faith in baldy.
- Katherine Grant
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