We’ve been eminently drawn to learn, inform and express from the genesis of our existence. Forty thousand years later, nothing’s changed as the appetite for expression exponentially grows by the day. Today, we find ourselves constantly chasing after truth, facts and data from every source imaginable; frankly, this might be the mainspring birth of news and media. Our constant need for information and communication is what has single-handedly pushed and shaped the concept of news in our society. A day at a time, the news took to changing how we consume and disseminate information; thanks to it, we have cultivated a refined and admirable approach to communication.
What is news, and how do we consume it?
Before understanding how news is consumed, it is cardinal that we define the phenomenon. What is news? News are meaningful reports on recent events, activities and information; however, some would acronymize news as Notable, Events, Weather, and Sports. With that out of the way, we can delve into how people consume information in the modern world.
Newspapers
Newspapers are considerably the oldest yet most influential publications present today. With the first dating back to ancient Roman 59 BCE, this source has retained its relevance throughout the years. How so? By reporting on various locales and covering a wide range of interests, from politics, business, entertainment, science and technology. That aside, newspapers are pretty progressive, unlike most sources, making them appealing to an even bigger audience. Today readers can conveniently catch up on their favourite local and international papers on their gadgets with a simple subscription to websites like Front Pages Newspapers. Talk of adaptability.
Radio
Radio is another popular news platform with a UN record of 70% global reach. The frequency-broadcast channel gains this high ranking for various reasons. First, most radio stations report fact-based news scoops for free, making them a go-to for global consumers. Then again, radio is an adaptable platform seeping through technology by offering remote access to news consumers through their smartphones, cars and digital watches. Another notable radio feature is its news delivery- this platform reports on events in an informative yet entertaining tone, earning it a top spot among other news channels.
Cable news network
Cable news networks are the sophisticated home to thousands of television channels; this has become the primary news source for many. According to statistics, the viewer rate for this medium has catapulted over the last couple of years following the global pandemic coverage. Cable television indisputably took centre stage with its vigorous and tightly-edited global and local pandemic updates. Along with that is the audio-visual aspect of this outlet, not to mention, the forward-thinking, globalization and tech friendliness of cable news networks which gives them an edge over most longitudinal options.
Social media
Social media is an odd yet robust news source in modern-day society; this recent column gets credit for pulling the widest viewer demographic by far. Consumers are taking a preferential vote on social media news because it’s interactive, balanced and briefly updates on breaking stories. On a broader spectrum, social media is such a powerful movement that it accommodates other news channels, something unseen by traditional news outlets. But that’s not all; social media’s accessibility and adaptability factors seal the deal for this news source as it treats its consumers to their favourite sports, celebrity, business and political action remotely in their hands.
Podcasts
Podcasts are a hot topic in the news world. They are often characterized by a series of audio files recorded by a host(s) to discuss a story, subject matter or piece of information. Podcast audio files typically lean toward an informal centre with a touch of creativity. Our thoughts? Podcasts are a light-hearted news option for consumers. Like every other news platform, news podcasts are also informative, engaging and entertaining. Although since most are not regulated, the consumer is signed to a blunt and liberal perspective on current events.
Note: Unlike traditional audio broadcasts, podcasts are not expected to abide by the prescribed journalistic code of conduct; however, they operate within set regulations.
Bottom line
Take a look around us; there’s news cracking by the second. Every passing minute is the wake of a new occurrence, and while some of these events are newsworthy, others are merely events with zero journalistic elements. Ideally, mainstream news outlets sift through all that “noise” to bring us credible, unbiased, factual and catchy stories. However, with different definitions of truth, news provenance can look quite different for every consumer. Ergo, there’s no right or wrong answer to news sources; what matters is, finding one that resonates with your ideology of truth.
