I first learn about world events from the news on TV or from the newspaper. If the event is a big world or national issue I usually see it on TV first. The stations use the bigger stories to draw in their audience and try to get viewers. Most of the time their reports are not as informational unless you are watching CNN, MSNBC or Fox News. Even those stations maybe one-sided on a story and have biased opinions. What I do is watch all the stations and see what the main purpose of the reports are. Once they start debating on the story I usually change the channel. I don't want to know and don't really care what the so-called "analyst" has to say unless it is from a relevant person. TV news is really what is the hot topic of the day or week. I prefer reading the newspaper or the news on the internet. The newspaper or news websites are more in depth and report on a number of events. I find that if the event has a significant impact on or to the United States the the story will be reported everywhere. If the story is not then we do not ever know about events that happen in other countries. National disasters will always be reported on TV and the newspaper but some things that happen in the current wars may not. Even when their are soldiers that have died the TV news just tells us the number of people that died and why. But we have to read the newspaper or go online to find out who has died and their will be a more in dept about the deceased soldiers.
I determine what is reliable by all of the media reporting on the event and if the information is consistent with them all. Most of the time I have to reassure myself by reading about the event in the paper or on a reliable news website. I usually see hype when the analysts start debating on a topic that is not relevant or has no significant impact on our lives. The analysts just talk about a subject to keep an idea going around or to attract the gullible people. I like to take in and watch multiple news sources and read different reports and articles because they all may have a different take on the subject and I like to have an open mind on how things are reported.
It seems as though we share a lot in common when it comes to learning about major events. I too, tune into the big stations. CNN seems to be my favorite choice. I do like how you pointed out the bias information that can sometimes be shared when discussing a major events. I found it extremely interesting that your reasons for researching on the Internet were because you tuned out of the television information. I am a huge fan of the Internet sources because I feel as though they do a better job of keeping you up to date on the information. I usually turn away form the television because the stations have a tendency to reiterate the information on the major event. I also have a hard time stating completely tuned in to the television stations because it becomes too negative. With that aside, I like how you associated “hype” with the debating between analysts. This is very true and I had never really put much thought into it until reading your blog. I always enjoyed the debates because it was a different take on the matter rather than listening to the constant repetition that I am used to.
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ReplyDeleteYou noted that you get your big information first from the newspaper or the TV. Personally, I get mine from the Internet, but I would be lying if I said I never use the TV and the newspaper. All of them are great sources. A few years back, when I was in 6th grade I’ll never forget the day the first airplane crashing into the world trade center; it was 6am just before going to school my parents called me over to go see the horrible incident. The reason why I like the Internet better however is: It is more efficient and you could filter out whatever you want -- get information now and get information that you need now.
I believe that the sources of news is filled with hype, you said, “I usually see hype when the analysts start debating on a topic that is not relevant or has no significant impact on our lives”. I agree with this. I think that the reports are filled with jargon, and it’s really a nuisance to sit there and watch through it all, again this is why i prefer the Internet, i could bypass any unnecessary information and just go straight to the important things.
I like how you said when it comes to major events you like to switch back and forth between the channels to see what each station is saying. On major news I like to go to each channel to see what each one is saying. Normally I find interesting things on both channels. They normally have something different to say, and sometime if it is live they will have a different camera angle which is really nice too. We get to see what is going on from a variety of different angles, to the point where you almost feel like you are there. You also said you like to read the news paper because I hardly see people reading the news paper. If I do it’s a elderly person with a paper and their coffee. I would really like to see a variety of different aged people reading the news paper. I think we all could really learn a lot from the news paper, it will also improve our reading skills. It is always neat to read news because you get a different picture of what is happening, because it really lets you paint the picture of what it should look like. I agree with you that you really need an open mind to take on news. If you aren’t willing to hear the news they you want, you might be missing out on some key points. It is important to keep an open mind.
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