In a world where technology is evolving and taking over almost all aspects of our lives, traditional methods of receiving news, such as physical newspapers, merchants, or reporters on horseback with a lamp yelling throughout the village, and radio stations like President Roosevelt's “fireside chats,” are no longer common. I, along with many of my peers and even our elders, rely heavily on technology and the modern-day internet and all of the resources that come along with it. Below are my top five new sources as a Gen-Z college student who does not get news most traditionally.
The first way I most commonly get all of my news information is from Google Alerts, based on my frequent searches or any of the topics that I have marked “interested in” on the Google Chrome app, which tends to send me alerts and notifications directly to my phone 24/7. In addition, any breaking news that Google feels everyone should know also comes to the phone as an alert or notification. Although it is not the most traditional, it is very convenient and useful because it includes everything that I deem relevant or important. As a Sport Management Major, I have a strong passion for sports, particularly college basketball. So being able to receive live updates to my phone about the current Carolina men's basketball game is a lifesaver.
My second source of news and information would be social media, which includes but is not limited to Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter). Each social media platform has different forms of outreach and appeals to various audiences. Social media tends to give me a quick rundown of the information in a much more interesting way than a newspaper would. Social media allows users to post instantly, so frequent updates are always necessary and helpful to have. Although I think social media is a good way to receive news, I am also aware of the fact that this news could lack evidence, could be biased, could be all around false, and so much more. So I always tend to put my own form of research into the quick news that I receive, but using the platforms as a stepping stone.
Growing up, I used to watch the 6 pm ABC11 news with my grandfather, so as I grew up and as the internet evolved more, I stopped watching the news on television in the traditional way and began to look up the news on their website. Whether this news channel is politically biased, I do not know, but I do know that this is one of the two news channels that I grew up watching, so I just continued to do so. I tend to do a quick scroll on the website now and then, but it is not my most frequented news source.
Like previously mentioned, I used to watch the news with my grandad, and when I stopped, he did not. So if there is anything major in the news or something he feels like I should know, he would give me a call and update me on the current news and how it affects me. From weather updates, political updates, all the way to what is going on in the sports industry, my grandad does not fail to update me. His news is pretty accurate, but I still sometimes do my own research to fact-check him as well, and so I can tell him that I actually looked into it.
Lastly, and this may come as a surprise to none, Professor Dean Smith is one of my current news sources. I come to class every Tuesday and Thursday and learn something new about what's going on in the world. As a journalist, you’re supposed to be a source who is unbiased, can play both sides when needed, and can give accurate, trustworthy news to the public. And these are all characteristics that Professor Smith emphasises and embodies, making him a great news source for me!
No comments:
Post a Comment