Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2018 July 25

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July 25

Exclusive news?

Some news organizations say that they have an exclusive, but then other news organizations run it. Recently, NBC said that they had an exclusive interview done by Andrea Mitchell, but CNN was running it seconds later. Today CNN said that they had they had the exclusive Michael Cohen tape, but NBC was also running it. Sometimes one news channel directly copies another. Is a news event free to anyone? Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 06:30, 25 July 2018 (UTC)

The fact and details of a news event are free for anyone to report on, but the use of a particular recording made or contractually obtained by a particular company will be in the contractual control of that company. However, that controlling company might choose to licence its (probably subsequent) use to other companies for a (doubtless substantial) fee. See also Scoop (news). {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.218.111.216 (talk) 09:26, 25 July 2018 (UTC)

This is known as the Idea–expression divide; a specific recording is an expression and is copyrightable (exclusive interview!). An idea (what was discussed in that interview) is not. --Jayron32 15:16, 25 July 2018 (UTC)

So, there could be a press conference at which dozens of media organisations turn up with their mics and cameras etc, and they all record the same questions and answers, but because they are all different recordings of the same event, they could all be presented as "exclusive" stories. Goodbye, English language. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 00:48, 26 July 2018 (UTC)

No, "exclusive" isn't about copyright. It's a claim that, at the time the story is published, nobody else has reported the same information. Naturally it is expected that other news sources will proceed to do so. --76.69.47.228 (talk) 05:43, 26 July 2018 (UTC)

Just to clarify, I meant that too. Exclusive means "no one has reported this yet". Not "no one else is allowed to report this". --Jayron32 15:10, 26 July 2018 (UTC)

But that is precisely nobody's (nobody in the real world, that is) understanding of the word "exclusive". If you're simply the first of potentially many to report a certain story, how can that legitimately be described as "exclusive"? Who or what is being excluded? -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 22:16, 26 July 2018 (UTC)

Nobody else things exclusive means "only one"? Weird, because everyone I know understands "exclusive" to mean "just this one instance". --Jayron32 15:59, 27 July 2018 (UTC)

Here's what wiktonary has to say about exclusive:

• Adjective

• (literally) Excluding items or members that do not meet certain conditions.
• (figuratively) Referring to a membership organisation, service or product: of high quality and/or renown, for superior members only. A snobbish usage, suggesting that members who do not meet requirements, which may be financial, of celebrity, religion, skin colour etc., are excluded.

Exclusive clubs tend to serve exclusive brands of food and drinks, in the same exorbitant price range, such as the 'finest' French châteaux.

• Exclusionary.
• Whole, undivided, entire.

The teacher's pet commands the teacher's exclusive attention.

• (linguistics) Of or relating to the first-person plural pronoun when excluding the person being addressed.

The pronoun in "We're going to a party later, but you aren't invited" is an exclusive "we".

• (of two people in a romantic or sexual relationship) Having a romantic or sexual relationship with one another, to the exclusion of others.

They decided to no longer be exclusive.

• Noun

• Information (or an artefact) that is granted or obtained exclusively.

The editor agreed to keep a lid on a potentially distastrous political scoop in exchange for an exclusive of a happier nature

• A member of a group who exclude others from their society.
• (grammar) A word or phrase that restricts something, such as only, solely, or simply.

-- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 19:49, 27 July 2018 (UTC)

There it is. Right there. The first definition under the noun form. You didn't even need us at all to find it! --Jayron32 01:36, 31 July 2018 (UTC)

Ah, but no, I'm afraid. Something that is "granted or obtained exclusively" is something that only one person or organisation has. For example, a politician grants an interview exclusively to one TV station, or one radio station, or one newspaper. Assuming the politician reveals new information not previously known to the public, the organisation can then legitimately claim to be broadcasting this information "exclusively". But if the politician goes on a media blitz and in the course of a day gives 3 TV interviews and 4 radio interviews, and reveals the same new information to all of them, then NONE of them - including the first one to make it to the airwaves - can make such a claim. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 08:30, 31 July 2018 (UTC)

"Exclusive" has become a horribly over-used word in some branches of the media that have chosen to ignore much of its original sense. If you find this depressing, I recommend reading Scoop (novel) by Evelyn Waugh. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 15:16, 26 July 2018 (UTC)

There's a tale told about Dizzy Dean, that he was interviewed in quick succession by three different reporters, and told each of them different and conflicting facts about his life. Someone asked him what that was about, and Ol' Diz said, "I wanted to give each o' them boys an exclusive story!" ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 03:48, 1 August 2018 (UTC)