15 January - Update and Discussion

Happy New Year,

Note* This blog is taking on a new twist for the next few months as I explore the graduate course COM 6630, Strategic Communication and Emerging Media. I will be posting weekly updates about topics relevant to changing media and class discussions.  It is my desire to learn, grow, and share what I am discovering during this semester. Technology is driving the landscape of media and news and how individuals consume it.

I am student at Troy University pursuing my masters.  This is an online program and requires the usage of a blog for communication.  My life experiences have allowed me to see many different countries, cultures, and meet amazing people.  I have blogged along the way, but this will have a new strategic focus.  

News, What is changing?

Nearly, all things.  The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.  Early 2021, they published a piece that highlighted eight-in-ten Americans get their news from digital devices.  I knew that this would be a significant number but was surprised how the high digital usage was.  The pandemic created a shift in many aspects, and this is one of them. For nearly 14 months, we were not running out pick up daily newspapers or grab the latest edition from the magazine shelves. We leaned into daily updates from television, radio, and digital outlets.  Did environmental circumstances help fast-forward the use of technology as the primary source for news?  Senior Researcher, Elisa Shearer reported most Americans under fifty are using technology as a primary means to access the news.  Rather than grab the newspaper from the front porch or flip the remote to a news channel they are grabbing a digital device.  Advertisers, political campaigns, and federal, state and local governments are recognizing the change.

Over the last year while I was deployed, I used podcasts for my daily news. I downloaded and then listened on the treadmill or at the gym. I could bulk episodes together and listen to a weeks’ worth of news in relative short amount of time.

Recommendations:

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Ukraine the Latest

NPR News Hour -updated hourly

Technology has made digital media very accessible.  The shows themselves make it easy to get news highlights in 5-10 minutes and if I needed more information on a topic, I could research it on other platforms. Digital media is relatively inexpensive to produce and just about anyone can create a podcast or YouTube program. Yes, there are some outrageous podcasters but ignore those you do not agree with. The First Amendment gives us the freedom of speech.

One may be a bit concerned that a large amount of people gets their news from Facebook. Consumers need to research their news sources. Recognizing that media outlets can have bias, but one needs to understand that up front.  Programs are dedicated to fact checking and keeping the integrity of content.

Americans over 65 are still primarily getting their news from the television. Which makes sense if you have watched a syndicated news hour, most of the advertisements are targeted towards that age market.  Sadly, much of this comes down to money and influence.

Staying up to date on news and being personally informed about matters that impact you and your family is important.  Personal ownership is key, you cannot stick your head in the sand and ignore all matters.  However, everything in moderation. There are many reports published on the harm and obsession with all things digital.   In fact, just this week Seattle Public Schools  a lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court. The 91-page complaint says the social media companies have created a public nuisance by targeting their products to children.  From the school district website, “This case is not about eliminating social media, but it is about changing how social media companies operate. The objective is to force these companies to take responsibility for the harm caused by their business practices” (Seattle Public Schools website, 2023). 

My idea would be to create safe spaces where we can get the best news information possible. Not fueled by advertisers and agendas.  Adopting a “leave no trace” principle for media and news would be helpful. We should protect and preserve news and media spaces allowing for responsible readers and consumers. 

Join me next week as we look at the future of news and learn about 5G networks.

#wheredoyougetyournews #keepreading #supportyourfavoritenewssource

References

Seattle Public Schools https://www.seattleschools.org/news/social-media-case/  8 Jan 2023.

Shearer, E. 2021. More than eight-in-ten Americans get news from digital devices.  Pew Research Center (blog), https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/01/12/more-than-eight-in-ten-americans-get-news-from-digital-devices/