My criteria for informative and reliable news has evolved and grown in a way technology has in our society. With vast changes in media outlets, from waiting in the morning for newspapers to hit the stands to turning on the computer and accessing news in mere seconds, the credibility of sources has now come to a fragile stand in our society. These changes caused my definition of news to accommodate reliable sources, facts, opinions, and on-demand availability.
Good and reliable news in national, local, and Hollywood topics means meeting the criteria of what I look for in news. There has to be some interest in the reporting of the story that can attract a variety of ages. News is really good if there is educational information. Laws affected by the story, new vocabulary terms, and any relation to what a students may be learning in class are a definite plus.
Sometimes there’s an issue and I have not yet formed an opinion. This usually happens because of the lack of facts and statistics available. I may start looking for biased reporting or discussions on news channels between two or more people. Comedy shows like Chelsea Lately and Saturday Night Live have the power to change a person’s opinion on important issues. They poke fun at even the most serious situations and help a viewer see the other side of the truth. These sources even help me form an opinion.
Trusting a news source is harder these days. With so many news programs and internet sites available, the distinction between what’s credible and what isn’t becomes harder. If the source is widely popular and has been around for many years, such as CNN, I am more likely to trust the news programs they have on their channels and website. CNN tends to provide both sides of a story, including facts and opinions. They have discussions through live conferences where reporters, scholars, and lawyers provide their opinions. There should also be a neutral point of view when news is being delivered but an open atmosphere should be present for receivers of the news to form their own opinions and ideas.
I am immediately suspicious of the story and source if the news being given doesn’t add up with the facts or background story. Also, if only one side of the story is given, I find myself doubtful and may wait for another news program to bring up the topic. Basically if there are more than two sources laying the facts and statistics on the table, then the story is more likely believable.
If there are TV programs such as MSNBC and CBS following the same story, most likely the issue will be brought up on internet sites. With news outlets watching other programs, it’s quite easy for them to get their stories mixed up. Following stories form the start to finish can lead to the clearing of any mistakes programs present with stories.
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