The function of today’s newspaper and television is to spread crucial news and to spread propaganda. I usually get my information on the Internet because personally -- I think it’s more efficient, convenient, and practical. I rarely watch the news or read the newspaper, I actually think its role in our contemporary society is diminishing. Why use other sources when you have the awesome Internet? Right lol? Despite the argument that news from television and newspapers are a dying meas of communication, it’s still a big factor in other people’s lives -- I guess the older generation (like my parents for example) can only get their information through television and the press...my parents are really computer illiterate, they wouldn’t know how to turn on a computer if I asked them to.
Most of the time, I get my notifications via friends; via facebook (haha). When I first discovered that Japan was hit by the horrific earthquake, I quickly got a rush of adrenaline and anxiety -- and quickly called my brother that is stationed in Japan. Thankfully he was okay, and was helping out Japan the very next day (he’s doing service in the Navy). So, my main point -- there are a lot of sources you can get your information from on important news -- I prefer the Internet because the Internet community is usually quick about anything, the spread of news is instant and fast.
The reason why I prefer the Internet rather than any other source: you get to choose what you want and when you want it. This is important to me, I dislike advertisements, and all the unnecessary hype that comes with television or especially the newspapers. For example, a few days after the incident in Japan, a lot of so-called “experts” were predicting that there will be aftershocks incoming to the west -- they provided little evidence, I usually take these type of stories as “hype” and don’t pay much attention to it, I always think to myself, “they’re just trying to get more viewers”. Or maybe I'm ignorant, and i don’t really know enough about earthquakes, or maybe i just don’t want to believe it. Either way, I wasn’t convinced with the little evidence they provided, it felt like hype to me. With the proper use of the Internet, you could choose what you want to watch, and pick out what really is important to you; whether it’s a specific location of where the earthquake hit to see if your loved ones are safe or to avoid the nuisance of jargon-filled media.
Overall, I think our means of spreading crucial news globally is impressive, it has improved throughout the years with many different varieties -- TV, newspapers, Internet, the social network..etc. My personal thoughts, I think the Internet is in direct competition with the other sources and will eventually achieve dominance over the others. It’s not a bad thing -- it’s more efficient. I use the Internet for just about everything, and I think it’s one of our greatest innovations of our time.
Most of the time, I get my notifications via friends; via facebook (haha). When I first discovered that Japan was hit by the horrific earthquake, I quickly got a rush of adrenaline and anxiety -- and quickly called my brother that is stationed in Japan. Thankfully he was okay, and was helping out Japan the very next day (he’s doing service in the Navy). So, my main point -- there are a lot of sources you can get your information from on important news -- I prefer the Internet because the Internet community is usually quick about anything, the spread of news is instant and fast.
The reason why I prefer the Internet rather than any other source: you get to choose what you want and when you want it. This is important to me, I dislike advertisements, and all the unnecessary hype that comes with television or especially the newspapers. For example, a few days after the incident in Japan, a lot of so-called “experts” were predicting that there will be aftershocks incoming to the west -- they provided little evidence, I usually take these type of stories as “hype” and don’t pay much attention to it, I always think to myself, “they’re just trying to get more viewers”. Or maybe I'm ignorant, and i don’t really know enough about earthquakes, or maybe i just don’t want to believe it. Either way, I wasn’t convinced with the little evidence they provided, it felt like hype to me. With the proper use of the Internet, you could choose what you want to watch, and pick out what really is important to you; whether it’s a specific location of where the earthquake hit to see if your loved ones are safe or to avoid the nuisance of jargon-filled media.
Overall, I think our means of spreading crucial news globally is impressive, it has improved throughout the years with many different varieties -- TV, newspapers, Internet, the social network..etc. My personal thoughts, I think the Internet is in direct competition with the other sources and will eventually achieve dominance over the others. It’s not a bad thing -- it’s more efficient. I use the Internet for just about everything, and I think it’s one of our greatest innovations of our time.
I sadly agree with you that the need for new and newspaper is diminishing. I like the news! Don’t get me wrong, I like the internet and I am on it daily. I do everything online! I can’t imagine life without it, but I still like to watch the news in the morning with my coffee while the kids eat breakfast. I actually look to see what’s on the front page of the newspaper if I happen to be in the drive through.
ReplyDeleteYou are also right about all the advertisements and experts. I see your point there too. Ever since the Japan earthquake my mom wants to move closer to my kids school just in case…so she can get there faster! It really made her panic.
I think you are correct in that the internet will eventually take over completely. What the internet itself does not fulfill I think that the apps you can get for you phone or ipad will take the place of having a “television”.
I think there will always be some form of “cable” just because there is such a high demand for entertainment, but I think that we will be watching everything on our computers, androids, ipods, etc. I use my phone for everything, it is my navigator, my phone book, my 411, my dictionary, calculator, calendar, camera, I can check and send email via my phone. I dropped it into the toilet one day (don’t ask) an I felt like I was disconnected from my world. It was awful! My phone is my everything!
The love the internet too!
ReplyDeleteI do agree on how useful the internet is. And I feel the same about your explanation on “hype.” I just seem to no believe anything so easily. One of them was the unknown lightnings in Jerusalem. So many people believe it, but in my mind I immediately rejected it. Even if it was true, I just somehow can’t easily accept it. A lot of people labeled it as aliens, but the lightnings are unknown. Just like back in the days when people thought some babies were born as demons but now we have the technology we can identify what type of deformity it is and what causes deformities. The media can fool people so easily that is why when I first hear about something, I don’t believe them right away. The media also has the power to twist the truth and make you believe what they want you to believe.