‘Being first is desired. Being right is required.’

Margaret Cronan, news director at WCVB Channel 5 in Boston, offered an inside look at the rapidly changing media landscape, focusing on how journalists can maintain credible, trustworthy news in an era shaped by social media, misinformation, and artificial intelligence. 

Her central message — “Being first is desired. Being right is required.” — underscored the tension at the heart of modern news: the pressure to move quickly and retain audiences while maintaining accuracy and public trust. 

Cronan delivered Skidmore College’s 41st annual F. William Harder Lecture in Business Administration on Thursday, March 19. The lecture, "The Business of News," was organized by Harder Chair – Professor of Business Administration Matt Lucas. 

The talk is among a range of offerings at Skidmore that aim to help students navigate today’s complex information landscape — evaluating sources, understanding media bias, and engaging thoughtfully with news and public discourse. Those efforts reinforce Skidmore’s longstanding commitment to civic engagement and the free exchange of ideas — a strategic priority for the College. 

Drawing on her extensive experience in the newsroom, Cronan described how the industry has transformed from a television-centered model into a “multi-platform media business.” News organizations now produce content for broadcast, websites, mobile apps, and social media simultaneously, responding to audiences who increasingly consume information on their phones. 

Cronan described a fast-moving information environment in which news spreads rapidly across digital platforms, often before it can be fully verified. At the same time, misinformation, manipulated images, and false posts have become more prevalent. 

“We have to be so, so careful,” she said, recalling instances in which a widely shared image turned out to be fake. 

Citing research showing that local news remains highly trusted, Cronan said, preserving trust was perhaps her “biggest job.” 

The rise of social media has further complicated how audiences engage with news. She noted that social media platforms have become primary sources of information, particularly for younger audiences, requiring news organizations to adapt their storytelling formats and distribution strategies. 

Cronan described how her newsroom now produces content specifically for these platforms. At the same time, she said this shift has changed how people build trust as they turn increasingly to social media personalities and influencers. 

Still, she pushed back on the idea that young people are passive or uncritical consumers of information. 

“I don’t think you get enough credit,” she told students, suggesting that many are thoughtful and discerning in how they evaluate what they see. 

Responding to a question from President Marc C. Conner about credibility and student media habits, she added that maintaining trust requires constant discipline and a willingness to slow down when necessary, even in a competitive, fast-moving news environment. 

Cronan also addressed the growing role of artificial intelligence in journalism. While acknowledging concerns about its potential misuse, she described how her organization is using AI tools to improve efficiency. 

“We are not having it do our writing,” she said. 

Human oversight, she emphasized, remains essential to ensure accuracy and maintain editorial standards. 

Despite rapid technological change, Cronan stressed that the core purpose of journalism has not shifted. Investigative reporting, in particular, remains vital to holding powerful institutions accountable and serving the public interest. 

She urged students to remain active and discerning participants in today’s information ecosystem. 

“Please dig because there’s so much that we just can’t trust. It’s not going to be easy, but get to the bottom of it, as we want to make a difference in this troubled world.”