Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Monday, October 31, 2016

How We Get News

The last few days I've learned some things about how we get news. Apparently TV has joined newspapers in decline.

I had the TV on to watch Doris Kearns Goodwin. Between the times she spoke in that hour I was disgusted to watch a newscaster go on forever about the latest e-mail debacle associated with Hillary Clinton. There was even a panel discussion. I had a strong urge to tap the TV screen to tell the newscaster to give it up, that flashed and died in about two hours. Stop beating a dead horse. No wonder people are moving away from TV as their primary source of news.

I've joined the millennials in getting my news in short bursts. I don't want to watch a panel of people talking over each other in loud voices. I say "One at a time please!"

Future TV will not be done as it is now by a schedule you have to meet or the show is forever gone. In the future the shows will be out there available for you to watch at your convenience. Few programs will be carried live.

Podcasts are going to become much more popular. I listen to a number of audio podcasts now but would like to see a bigger selection. Podcasts also come as videos, but I prefer the audio.

Newsy is a news source millennials are using. They want their news on their smart phone, not on TV. I put Newsy on my iPad and phone but haven't used it yet. I enjoy podcasts because I can listen to in-depth discussion on issues I care about. I prefer news in short blips like Twitter or Facebook. If something catches my eye I'll follow up with more lengthy sources.

News as we have it today is poisoning the water. I'm going to be watching FOX News to see what changes, if any, they make now that Roger Ailes is no longer in charge there.

There must be a healthier way to do this news thing. What are your thoughts?

20 comments:

  1. Honestly, I don't think the trend for getting news is a good one. It's too easy for pop-up sites to spread rumors and untruths with no fact checkers that are universally trusted and no way for everyone to get the same, important news all at one time. Every website has their own agenda. As long as FOX keeps Hannity there is no hope for them in my opinion.

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    1. It would be nice to go back to the Walter Cronkite model but those days are long gone. I really don't like this loop of news the cable channels offer. I like podcasts because you are able to get more in depth information.

      I'm seeing some discussion these days about FOX news. There seems to be speculation Sean Hannity and Bill OReily may go. Hannity has his own radio show. Greta Van Susteren is also rumored to be leaving. The question is out on Megan Kelly. I think her situation is her choice to make, maybe not so much with the others. FOX doesn't have to go mainstream but they need to tone it down some.

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  2. I like my Twitter feed for news.

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    1. I like Twitter because it has so many links to articles I enjoy reading.

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  3. The danger I see in news feeds---no matter where they come from---we usually pick our feeds from places we agree with and therefore we never hear opposing viewpoints.

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    1. That is a very real danger but I used to do that with the editorial and opinion sections of the newspaper. The last few years I have intentionally chosen right wing sites to follow. I don't enjoy them sometimes but I'm pushing on determined to be well informed. I wonder how much in depth news millinials are reading. Their news doesn't seem to be the same as I see on sites for my age.

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  4. I have a few twitter feeds for news. I don't get podcasts. I don't watch TV. I still read a daily paper. I think news has been letting us down.

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    1. You have to wonder if good journalism will survive.

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  5. Good journalism won't survive it we don't support the media sources that provide it. I still watch mainstream network news. I trust it even is I finds holes in it. I can always go on the Internet to find more. I also listen to News and moderate talk radio, where I get liberal, Conservative and libertarian points of view. I also look through and read some of the daily newspaper. Cable news shows always have an obvious bias. I like straight news, where I can form my own opinion.

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    1. I do read lots of editorial from the Internet. I try to evaluate news sources to see what the bias might be.

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    2. Obviously you do an excellent job keeping yourself informed. Oh that it were so of most Americans. I wish I knew a young person interested in news and politics. I'd love to know the sources they visit. I'm pretty sure it isn't TV. I'm interested in where we're going with news in the future, how we're going to get our news.

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  6. I get annoyed when the person being interviewed is simply trying to get through their "talking points". It becomes so partisan, I sometimes can't stand it. There could be a real discussion of the issues, pros and cons etc, but often the interviewee gets hung up on saying the politically right thing.

    I hadn't heard about Newsy. I'll have to check that out.

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    1. Check out 'Stitcher.' I enjoy it more than Newsy. I'm on the hunt for different sources of news.

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  7. We watch NBC, CNN, etc. we also get a daily newspaper. I find a lot of links on FaceBook and read them. I think I'll check out Twitter, though. Have never used it.

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    1. I like "Twitter." I like it because I get links to good articles from it. Also it's quick. 140 characters is all I need to know about a lot of subjects.

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  8. I'm basically on a news hiatus till the election. I scan my Google news headlines briefly, ignoring content. Today I had GMA on but quickly shut it off and put on some classical music. I felt my tension levels drop right back to normal. Ahhhh.

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    1. If I were a music person I would tune into music and let the world go by! Unfortunate I'm stuck with this addiction to news and politics.

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  9. everything is so tainted. I feel I have to look at cnn., then Fox, and figure the truth is somewhere in the middle.

    Sorry, I can't get into podcasts. I am not an 'auditory learner', I'm visual and tactile. It's hard for me to stay focused with podcasts. It's why I don't like regular telephone talking, either.

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    1. Sorry you can't do podcasts. I find I remain much calmer without the visual images.

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    2. I feel that way about auditory. It all depends upon what your learning style is. I learned THAT when I was taking beginning education classes in college. :)

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