1 - Defining News
Hannah Diffee
Professor Reppert
Reporting and Writing for the Mass Media
Fall 2024
1 - Defining News
What is News?
News helps us be informed of current events. In simple terms, news is information previously unknown by the general population. News organizations aim (usually) to provide objective coverage of politics, global and local conflicts, sports, weather forecasts, and other topics significant to viewers. "All news is far from just gossipy, sensationalised doom and gloom. News is responsible for informing us about the world we're living in; the good, the bad and everything in between" (First News). Coverage comes in various formats, including newspapers, magazines, television, social media, and websites. For thousands of years, news was communicated mainly via word-of-mouth. This changed as civilizations developed writing systems around 5,000 years ago and became industrialized in the 18th and 19th centuries.
News in the Digital Age
Thanks to technology, we now have news at our fingertips. The introduction of the 24-hour news cycle in the 1980s made news more in demand and influenced how media providers and advertisers appeal to audiences. Companies learned that Americans would watch the news at all hours of the day and night if it was being broadcast, so they worked to provide minute-by-minute coverage of events.
The internet has made news even more accessible. The Pew Research Center reports that 86% of U.S. adults often or sometimes consume news via computer, smartphone, or tablet (2023). Pew also found that most Americans (58%) prefer getting news from digital devices over television, radio, or print.
Social Media
Social media is actively changing the way people get their news. If people want to know something, they can search on an app such as TikTok, Instagram, X (Twitter), or Facebook and instantly find links, photos, and videos relevant to the topic. The Pew Research Center conducted another study analyzing what social media news consumers like and dislike about getting news there most. Many users like the convenience and speed of the process: "It's at my fingertips," said one respondent.
While social media has become a popular news source, people often deem it unreliable. In the same Pew study, 40% of respondents said that inaccuracy was what they disliked most. The content users view and interact with most frequently gets "bumped" up in their algorithm, making the individual more likely to see similar content. As a result, people may be more suscept to seeing skewed, biased reports of events from others with the same opinions. "Fake news" is also prevalent, so users cannot trust everything they read or see.
Comments
Post a Comment