‘No Comment’ Is Morphing into No Response

In his Columbia Journalism Review article, Paul Farhi highlights a troubling trend: companies and individuals increasingly ignore reporters' requests for comments. His Nexis searches reveal a five-fold increase in "did not respond to a request for comment" mentions over the past decade, indicating a shift in how organizations handle crises.

 

Farhi attributes this change to the declining influence of traditional media and the rise of social media, allowing entities to bypass journalists and control their narratives. Farhi argues that this avoidance undermines balanced reporting and public trust, emphasizing the importance of engaging with the press, especially during crises, to provide a complete story. Read the full story here.