Back in the day, getting news would only happen twice daily. Once in the morning with newspapers, then once in the evening with broadcasts that summarized the day’s events. The advent of the 24-hour news cycle revolutionized the way that news is reported and consumed, because now news can be continuously produced then pushed out over a wide range of mediums so you never have to disconnect from an IV drip of novel updates. Anyone with a Masters in Journalism will understand the absolute magnitude of this shift and will further appreciate the significant changes that the industry continues to go through as a result of this change. This article will break down what the 24-hour news cycle looks like, how it affects the media, and how social media is disrupting the process even further, comparing it to the traditional news cycle throughout.
The Birth of the 24-Hour News Cycle
Necessity is the mother of invention, or so the saying goes. Some would say opportunity is the father. When cable news channels like CNN launched in the 1980s, there was a newfound demand for continuous content to keep consumers entertained and informed. Journalists and media organizations didn’t have to adhere to the constraints of daily print deadlines or evening newscasts, as anyone with a TV (and a cable subscription) could access their journalism without having to leave their home. This convenience, however, came with a price – suddenly, these organizations had to fill every hour of the day with fresh content, leading to a continuous cycle of reporting and analysis, interspersed with breaking news updates.
All of a sudden, stories could be reported on in real-time, rather than having to wait for updates from journalists and subject experts over days and weeks following events. However, real-time updates and massive timeslots are a double-edged sword: news content also became more saturated to fill time, which also resulted in a rise of sensationalism, speculation, and a focus on quantity over quality.
How Does the 24-Hour News Cycle Affect Media?
The effects of the shift to the 24-hour news cycle on the media landscape aren’t something that only happened in the past – it continues to evolve and change as new ways of reporting and reacting to stories emerge. Even though this evolution allows faster reporting and a potentially more engaged audience, there are several challenges when compared to a more traditional cycle.
The pressure to entertain and engage with audiences when broadcasts don’t end can result in the blurring of lines between news and entertainment. Dubbed “infotainment”, a delightful portmanteau of “info” and “entertainment”, this phenomenon has become a staple in filling space in the 24-hour news cycle, but any utility or journalistic merit attached to these kinds of stories is dubious at best. At worst, these stories can veer into the emotional realm of sensationalism as they generally captivate audiences more, which can result in ‘emotional creep’, where stories that tug at the heartstrings will always take precedence over stories that are more informative but possibly less captivating.
The demand for constant content has also led to a decline in in-depth investigative reporting. Given that explanations and stories are demanded immediately, journalists are no longer afforded thorough research time to develop stories, which can lead to more surface-level coverage. The advent of Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT are also a tempting tool to simplify creating articles or scripts, but this results in a similarly-written story under many different publications. Context and analysis were once prized aspects of being a journalist, but now reporting facts as they emerge for the sake of speed has taken their place.
Social Media’s Role in Disrupting the 24-Hour News Cycle
While the 24-hour news cycle transformed traditional media, the rise of social media has further contributed to this disruption and evolution. Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok allow news to spread in an instant, often outpacing traditional news outlets, as there is no editing or moderation necessary for an individual to post a tweet or a video.
News is now instant. Sharing and reacting to stories is no longer solely in the realm of the news organizations, now the everyday person can put their two cents in about a developing issue, even if they have no background in journalism or have been misinformed about a topic. The spread of misinformation and fake news is, as a result, a pertinent issue, and must be considered when reading anything on a social media platform. The line between credible journalism and unverified information can become increasingly blurred in today’s fast-paced social media environment.
On the bright side, the advent of social media in keeping people up-to-date with the latest happenings means that news has been massively democratized, so anyone with a smartphone and internet access can act as a reporter and can share firsthand accounts from the scene of an event. Even without formal training, everyone is capable of telling a story, and history reminds us that first-hand accounts can be vital to further analysis of an event. People can take action and participate in the news-making process, including reporting on events and actions that traditional media is not interested in reporting on, like contentious issues relating to protesting or geopolitical struggles.
Social media can also lead to creating echo chambers. If people are exposed primarily to information that aligns solely with their beliefs and doesn’t challenge them to think about an issue from another perspective, biases can be reinforced and individuals can lose sight of the diverse perspectives that exist in the world. In the context of the 24-hour news cycle, this means that news is not only consumed faster, but also filtered through the lens of individual preferences.
The 24-hour news cycle as we know it has undeniably transformed the media landscape, now and forever. Bringing both opportunities and challenges, it has allowed faster reporting and immediate access to information, but this is at the cost of accuracy and depth of reporting. Social media’s role in evolving this process has introduced new dynamics that complement and complicate traditional news reporting. As consumers of news, it is vital to remain critical and recognise the pressures of the cycle on those behind the scenes. By understanding the dynamics of journalism in the modern world, we can navigate media today with a more informed and nuanced perspective.
