The Impact of Breaking News on Society
The Impact of Breaking News on Society
There’s no denying that the world of news and current affairs has had a tough time over recent months. In fact, it has been hard to keep up with all the turmoil going on in the media and political spheres. However, the good news, for people searching for some silver lining in the clouds, is that this global loss came at the end of September and not just January.
This decline in the number of local news stories, which is a normal occurrence during this time of year, is being attributed to various factors. One of the biggest culprits has been the internet. With more stories being posted online than ever before, social networking websites such as Facebook have also played their part in the decline of local news. While there’s no denying that the spread of the internet has created an environment where information is instantly accessible worldwide, one cannot argue that there are definite limits to what this medium can do. So then, where does this leave the media?
From a purely objective point of view, the rise in breaking news stories has impacted positively on the local news industry. For one thing, the increase in online stories has led to increased interest in journalism in general. While this may not directly impact the level of news coverage, it certainly has affected the way that audiences approach the subject matter.
For instance, many people who might not have followed the news at all in the past simply tune into the capitol events as they happen. It is only when they see how things unfold in real time – through visual images and real time reports – that they begin to take notice. The same is true for people in the affected areas. They see for themselves how things actually unfold as they react to the natural disasters happening across the region. They get caught up in the reporting – and only then are they able to grasp how important the news can be for these communities.
When it comes to breaking news, there are a handful of news outlets that are all but mandatory. This includes major networks like CNN, Fox News, and CBS News. While these news outlets provide the backbone of local news around the country, there are a few other lesser-known outlets that do their part to keep people informed. For instance, community-based websites like MyBlogLog Cabin, WordPress, and Chitika have taken on the role of becoming one of the major regional news outlets, bringing communities together with valuable content and useful information.
In a time where social networks allow people to connect with one another in an almost infinite manner, breaking news on the web takes on a unique role in influencing public opinion. Without the ability to filter what we read and whom we connect with on the Internet, the impact of what people read about their home areas and other locales cannot be ignored. It is in this context that the role of local news outlets becomes even more relevant, and their influence more pronounced. As the social networks expand and become more sophisticated, news related content will continue to shape how people experience the world, and how they come to make decisions affecting their day-to-day lives.