When Newspapers Fall for Political "Drops"

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"Next time you see an 'exclusive' tag on a story about state politics, stop and have a closer look. The chances are that the story, far from being a feat of journalistic endeavor, is what we call in the trade 'a drop,'" writes Anne Davies in the Sydney Morning Herald. "You'll be able to tell it's a drop because it's likely to quote one side of politics only. This is often a condition of the drop." Drops, especially those in Sunday papers, help politicians influence the week's media agenda. Presenting government-sanctioned leaks as "exclusives" also helps newspapers gain a marketing edge over their rivals. Uncritical reporting of a drop, Davies concludes, "may be of mutual benefit to newspapers and politicians, but it's certainly not in the public's interest."