The Bitcoin knowledge of journalists \ stacker news ~bitcoin

40 sats \ 7 comments \ @Bitman 12 Aug 2023 bitcoin

I'd be interested in finding out how clued up journalists are about Bitcoin, their weaknesses and strengths - and, hopefully, educate them a little in the process.

Perhaps we could get some ideas so that a user could bring a device to a conference and give attendees with a MSM press pass some sats after they've completed it. Alternatively, it could be done online by inviting MSM journos by email by sending them a link.

I'd imagine something like Bitcoin Magazine's 21 days quiz - but immediately giving the right answer if they're wrong (something BM doesn't do).

Anonomizing the participants data would be the obvious, ethical way to go about it.

For me reading MSM articles, journslists often come across as pretty ignorant about Bitcoin - not grasping the basics, let alone any of Bitcoin's nuances.

Anyone able to share ideas on this?

If anyone wants to implement it, I'd imagine they'd be wide open to being thoroughly questioned in turn by the journos though...

What's peoples ideas on this? Its tempting to leave them in their ignorance, but that does no-one any good...

It could be the basis of an interesting student project too - if there are any students out there.

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11 sats \ 2 replies \ @TomK 12 Aug 2023

Well I am journalist and I'm the owner of a press agency in Germany. What I can tell you from first hand experience is that Bitcoin is nowhere near being part of our agenda. Here in Europe, and especially in Germany, newspapers and economic magazins clearly are waiting for their overloards to give a 'go' to make Bitcoin a common theme. Nobody and again nobody is talking about Bitcoin here in Europe in the media. Like they say we are very early. Don't count on the help of the mass media.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Bitman OP 12 Aug 2023

Interesting. Can you be more specific as to who are waiting for the green light - and what makes you believe that?

Also, what do you suggest could help?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @TomK 12 Aug 2023

Change will come in the moment the new regime of higher yields will be ''killing'' the money printer. When this will happen? I have no idea

10 sats \ 3 replies \ @premitive1 12 Aug 2023

Just like with all niche categories of news coverage, most journalists covering Bitcoin don't understand it the same as most science journalist don't understand the scientific method, and most tech journalists don't understand technology.

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Bitman OP 12 Aug 2023

Yep, I remember reading an article science journalist relating how the speaker at a science conference asked a room full of journalists who were there to report on what he was going to say - the speaker asked how many journalists there had a degree in science.

Only three journalists of the hall of reporters raised their hand.

The rest seemingly only had degrees in journalism.

37 sats \ 1 reply \ @premitive1 12 Aug 2023

now extrapolate that to the reality that most of us get our information filtered through people who have no idea what they're talking about.

13 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bitman OP 12 Aug 2023

Plus, I guess it's even weirder in political reporting. At least science journalists (with no science background) speaking with experts on their subject.

Politicians, on the other hand, jump from one diverse department to another - they're no Renaissance-men - and we put our lives in their hands.

Now add out-of-their depth journalists to the mix and Houston, we've got a problem...