Media and Technology
Everywhere we look we see technology evolving and become more integrated into our lives. If we go back 30 years, portable phones were only for the rich and were considered an emerging technology. Today we all carry phones that work more like handheld computers. We use them to consume tons of digital media every day and they are a crucial tool for keeping up with the latest news stories and trends.
Ways of the Past
Most of us grew up watching local television news or reading a daily newspaper. That was how we kept informed with what was happening in the world. We would learn sports scores, we would check stock market performance, we would read up on the national and local news, and we would kill time solving crossword puzzles. Rarely were our lives instantly stopped when something happened. Occasionally, television networks would interrupt schedule programs, but this only happened in extreme circumstances. We all lived our lives and waited patiently for the information to be transmitted to us. Things have drastically changed.
Instant News
The evolution of the news media occurred simultaneously with the rise of premium cable or satellite television. Specialty news networks started to broadcast on this high-end market and become a big-time success. People could now get the latest information in live time without having to interrupt other programs. All a consumer had to do is change the channel. Specialty sports networks started to gain popularity and this new market began to grow as well. As time went on premium television prices became part of everyone’s family budget and everyone had it. Live news coverage became the new way most of us got our news.
Modern Day
If we fast forward today, the news media market has transformed yet again. This change has developed alongside the perfection of smart phones. People can now simply look at their phone and get the latest news headlines and sports scores. We can receive alerts that are pre-programed based on preferences and we are always in the know. These devices can even be used to watch live television as well through several different applications. This technological progress has come at a cost. Local newspapers, which used to be the backbone of spreading information, have suffered. People no longer want to subscribe to a paper that prints old news. Some organizations even switched to a part print/part digital subscription formula. However, technology has changed the news business forever.
Too Much Information
Social media platforms have a huge impact on how we consume information today. Often, we get information from a reporter’s tweet or post long before a story is written. This can be both a good and bad thing. In the past, reporters had time to fact check information before drawing conclusions. In the days of instant information, it can be hard to know what to believe. Additionally, anyone can claim to be a reporter and can post whatever they want online. Our First Amendment writers ensured that everyone has the freedom to speak and write whatever they want. It is up to the consumer to decide on whether or not to believe something.
What to Do
The biggest issue with modern media is we never really know what to believe. We are presented with different facts based on different sources and are often told what conclusions we should be making. Two different networks or news personalities could have differing opinions and both present debatable facts to prove their claim. How are we to know who to believe? The answer is to read multiple reports from multiple sources and makes your own conclusion. We are too often told what we should think or feel about a situation. We must take ownership in our opinions, and we must ensure they are informed decisions. Finally, we must remember to be open minded. If we believe something to be fact, we must give others the opportunity to prove us wrong. We can always have our opinions changed.
How we consume media has changed as technology has progressed. However, we must remember to think for ourselves and not get overburdened by the constant stream of information. We must remember that knowing about the past is important, but we must always keep looking toward the future. Technology and media will continue to evolve, and we must evolve with it.