April Fools, The News Reporter’s Day Of Horror

I’ve been working with editorial services for years, usually with news reporting as something I do daily. I know the dread that April 1 send through the spine of any news writer. It’s a day where anything can happen, and since the world sometimes is a scary place, you can’t always know what is real and what is fake.

April Fools. The words bring horror.

I like this day, sometimes there are thoroughly enjoyable pranks and jokes. I like April 1 as a reader. As a writer, I need to force myself to rethink everything at least twice. And you know what? I like that too, I think it is a good thing that you’ll have t reconsider everything, and ask yourself if the information you’ve gotten is reliable, even plausible. There’s so much content out there, we really need to start asking ourselves if what we take in is the truth, or just PR bullshit.

Of course, it can be somewhere in-between as well. Not everything we read online, or in the papers for that matter, is well researched. The conclusions drawn can be flawed, and since you rarely get all the facts that means that you might not be able to discover the flaws so easily, unless you start to think about what you’ve just taken as truth, start questioning it.

On April 1, you need to do that, or you’ll be the laughing stock with your friends.

As a publisher, April 1 is the day where your credibility can go down the drain.

Think about it. What happens if a reliable site falls for a stupid April Fools joke? I’d say that tells me three things.

See Also

  1. The writers are gullible.
  2. The writers aren’t researching enough.
  3. The writers aren’t questioning their sources.

Three pretty bad things, if it is a source of information for me, a site I enjoy and read. Let’s say TechCrunch falls for an April Fools joke, for instance. I’d smile at that, fun stuff, but then I’d say “hey, what other misinformation are they taking in and publishes as the truth?”, and that would hurt their credibility with me.

April 1 is fun. I still think that, even though I need to watch my step as a writer, as well as a reader. Enjoy it while it lasts.

More reading: Wired’s 10 best April Fools’ gags and the Wikipedia entry

Feeling stuck in self-doubt?

Stop trying to fix yourself and start embracing who you are. Join the free 7-day self-discovery challenge and learn how to transform negative emotions into personal growth.

Join Free Now

Picture of Thord Daniel Hedengren

Thord Daniel Hedengren

Thord Daniel Hedengren is a designer, writer, and blogger, and also the former editor of The Blog Herald. He used to be a hotshot in the gaming industry in Sweden, but sold everything and went International. Most recently he wrote a book called Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, and does loads of kickass design.

RECENT ARTICLES

TRENDING AROUND THE WEB

5 zodiac signs who seem sweet but have a savage side when provoked

5 zodiac signs who seem sweet but have a savage side when provoked

My Inner Creative

4 Zodiac signs who are most likely to build long-lasting wealth and financial success

4 Zodiac signs who are most likely to build long-lasting wealth and financial success

Parent From Heart

8 habits that will make you look and feel biologically younger than you actually are

8 habits that will make you look and feel biologically younger than you actually are

Global English Editing

My children resented me because I was never the parent they needed. Healing our relationship became my rewarding experience yet

My children resented me because I was never the parent they needed. Healing our relationship became my rewarding experience yet

Hack Spirit

I was convinced my low-income upbringing defined me, but learning how to handle money mindfully turned my past disadvantage into a future strength.

I was convinced my low-income upbringing defined me, but learning how to handle money mindfully turned my past disadvantage into a future strength.

NewsReports

6 subtle signs you’re evolving into your best self

6 subtle signs you’re evolving into your best self

Global English Editing