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Long ago it was easy to distinguish between professionally produced journalism and an abundance of blogs, instagrammers, and youtubers sharing gossip, entertainment and updates. Now however, this distinction has become less clear.
1. Social Media
Social media has transformed how many people access news, resulting in many now turning to online sources for news rather than traditional broadcasters and newspapers for updates. This trend has caused traditional sources to lose readership as well as advertising revenues, leading to significant declines in readership for legacy sources and significant advertising revenue losses for legacy news sources.
Social media provides individuals with an outlet to express their personal accounts of events directly without needing to go through journalists working for specific news organizations, which can be particularly impactful in places where individual voices might otherwise be muffled or ignored.
Social media has not only affected traditional news consumption, but has also given some individuals the ability to become “content creators” and make money off of news coverage. This trend has created new challenges for journalists as these “content creators” can often attract large audiences which allow their stories to spread faster than through traditional news outlets.
2. Search Engines
Search engines are essential tools for accessing news online, yet their presence influences what people find when searching, as well as having an effect on publishing news online.
Though search algorithms often reinforce false or inaccurate information, few quantitative assessments exist of their role in spreading misinformation. But this is now changing.
Researchers are creating software to analyze video sequences in order to recognize patterns such as zoom shots, cropped images and lower thirds used by news channels.
Meanwhile, news organizations are grappling with how best to draw traffic from search engines. Many have bid on search terms like “Heath Ledger dies” in order to drive click-throughs and generate advertising revenue.
3. Email
Email remains an indispensable medium for news updates and online life in general, serving both professional and personal needs alike. Email’s integration into digital ecosystems enables its use as a distribution channel for newsletters or subscriptions.
More than half of those receiving newsletters subscribe to those published by mainstream media organizations despite an increasing trend toward alternative and journalist-led newsletters that target specialized audiences.
Nearly three-quarters of those receiving news emails access them daily, though email is not the primary access point; rather it appeals to news lovers who need a quick and convenient daily briefing.
4. Apps
DigitalNewsAlerts can be a daily bombardment, but keeping up with developments doesn’t need to be difficult thanks to smartphones and their apps. Staying informed has never been simpler!
Flipboard, one of the world’s most beloved news apps, provides an appealing digital magazine-style experience with its stylish interface that mimics turning pages of an actual magazine as well as content curated by its community and tailored specifically to you and your interests.
News Break provides national headlines while also trying to personalize them by focusing on cities and metropolitan areas you select. Inshorts is another app offering concise stories with only the pertinent facts highlighted.
5. Video
Video has quickly become an invaluable asset to businesses, individuals, and professionals of all kinds. Its ability to grab attention quickly while conveying messages quickly makes video an indispensable marketing tool; plus it’s indispensable in business presentations, training sessions, and events.
As our research has demonstrated, it would be incorrect to assume that online video is the sole form of news consumption among young people. Social natives don’t simply gravitate toward new visual social networks like TikTok with short attention spans for serious information; rather they prefer different formats and media in various forms and forms – meaning news organizations must experiment and innovate by finding ways to include various forms of media into their content in order to attract and engage younger audiences.
