Pew Research Center reveals how the Internet and social media change the American news landscape in a survey called "Understanding the Participatory News Consumers".
According to the study, the Internet is now the third most popular news platform behind local television and national television news.
I can't say that I'm surprised by this result because I can personally relate to it. The Internet has changed a lot in the way we reach news, or should I say the way they reach to us? The first information I get when I wake up is not on TV, radio or newspapers anymore, but on my home page. As crazy as it may sound, checking my Facebook profile is the last thing I do before I go to bed and the first thing I do in the morning. Like many students, I don't own a TV, but I couldn't live without the Internet anymore. It became my first source of information. For example, I learned about the historical passing of the health care bill via Twitter.
Truth is, we no longer depend on the traditional media to know what's going on. You can be in bed and still be aware of the latest news. We don't wait until we get outside to read the news because we don't have to. Technology now allows a permanent flow of information.
But it doesn't mean that traditional media are dead, they are just evolving as they face the digital area. The study also reveals that six in ten Americans get news from a combination of online and offline sources on a typical day.
Despite my obivous addiction to the Internet and social media, I think this statement is reassuring. Even the Internet is the first media on everything, I feel the need to read the newspaper, listen to a radio interview or watch a documentary on television whenever I want to learn more about one particular subject. I will buy The Times, or The Economist for historical events because I think print media have more prestige. Plus I fell it's important to have something to remember majors news.
One of the survey's conclusions is that modern news are portable, personalized and participatory.
The Internet, social media and smartphones gave the power to the audience who can not only access to information easiy but also contribute to the news by creating content. That's exactly what I'm doing right now. Somehow, and on a lower scale, I'm making news by writing on this blog.
What about you?
Did you notice any difference in the way you consume news ever since you started to use the Internet and social media?
No comments:
Post a Comment