1 - Defining News

 Defining News

News is around us daily, on our laptops or phone screens, in our papers, or in social media feeds. The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about news is the newspapers my grandmother always brought out for me when I was a little kid. Back then, I was not interested in the actual news that was written on the paper, I only cared about the short stories that filled one page out of the whole newspaper. Thinking back on this made me realize how the way we receive news has changed so much over the past few years, as in on paper or in digital form. I also realized how my own interest in the actual news has grown over the past few years as well. From news on the radio, paper, and on TV, to being able to find news all over the different social media like Instagram or TikTok. The answer to the question of what news is is something that has evolved over time, shaped by our history, technology, and the way we communicate. It is hard to define news because of the simple reason that news today is very broad and can fall under many different categories. My definition of news is information about current events that are going on around the world and affect individuals in different ways. 

News is being spread in many different ways. Our digital age has changed the way we access news and nowadays different news is also being spread over social media. I would say that my primary source of news is social media, mainly TikTok. While scrolling on the "for you page" I normally get up a lot of different news stories from around the world, and it's everything from the smallest stories to the bigger ones. While TikTok offers advantages in terms of accessibility and engagement, it also creates challenges related to accuracy and misinformation. Since users of TikTok continue to turn to the application for news, it is crucial for the social media platform to find a balance between entertainment and responsible journalism. 

The accessibility of digital news has empowered citizens with the ability to stay informed about global events, engage in discussions, and form opinions. Our digital age is providing access to diverse perspectives, but it also risks reinforcing echo chambers, where individuals mainly consume news with their preexisting beliefs. The algorithms in our social media and news aggregation platforms tend to recommend content that confirms users' preferences, potentially limiting exposure to contrasting viewpoints. Selective consumption can contribute to polarization and hinder constructive dialogue. 

One of the most pressing challenges of news in today's society is the proliferation of misinformation and fake news. The speed at which information spreads online, coupled with the ease of content creation, makes it challenging to distinguish between credible and misleading sources. It is increasingly important for individuals to critically evaluate the credibility of news outlets and fact-check information before accepting it as truth. 

Traditional journalism is evolving. News organizations are adapting to the changing media landscape by embracing online platforms, multimedia storytelling, and data-driven reporting. At the same time, the importance of ethical journalism, accurate reporting, and fact-checking has become more evident than ever. Journalists serve as watchdogs, holding power accountable and providing context and analysis that help audiences navigate the complexities of the world. 

News is a great way for people to be aware of what is going on close to and around the world. News today can be found and received in so many different ways due to our digital society, and news can fall under so many different categories which makes it hard to explicitly define it. The different news sources we have is playing a big role in information spreading around the world which nowadays can be a bit tricky due to misinformation and fake news. With the algorithm in social media today we also have to be mindful that what's being shown is most likely showing selective content matching our preferences. News are great and news has been around us for as long as we have spread information around, and it will continue being around us forever.