As news breaks everywhere around us, from reports on Twitter and postings on Facebook, the news cycle is accelerating. The retiring president and chief executive of the Associated Press, Tom Curley, said that the time journalists have to report breaking news has shrunk to only hours, and in some cases minutes.

The AP’s answer is to speed up their reporting process and keep reporters from “scooping the wire” via social media. But with the half-life of a scoop nearing 30 seconds, maybe journalists should focus on the why instead of the what, on providing context, analysis and a guide to what’s next.

Twitter and the incredible shrinking news cycle, GigaOm