I have to ask a question,and this question has bothered me for a while: Do we absolutely have to have breaking news at the speed of light? Can most people not wait a couple of hours before they hear about the latest tragedy or event?
All I've ever seen from citizen journalists (on Reddit/Twitter/etc.) is a bunch of typically wrong rumors, data and analysis. Every once in a while they get it right, but that's the rare exception. The reason people watch CNN et al is because biases or not, they're somewhat trusted to at least get the majority of their facts correct (and see below as to why I think all of these wishy washy adjectives).
I think this goes back into the curse of the 24 hour news cycle. It creates demand for sensationalism, "breaking" news. The speed that these news networks feel that they have to be have the exclusive does lead to errors, which leads to less trustworthiness in their reporting.
I just don't see the necessity of constant up to the minute news reporting. I consider myself a news junkie, but to me the important questions are usually answered after the fact anyways: "Why did this happen and what does it mean?"
I also have to wonder if this is part of our Constantly Connected Culture. People have to have their smart phone and be connected to every event constantly. I don't know if these phenomenon are somehow connected, but I would guess they are.
But again, are people that impatient about facts?
All I've ever seen from citizen journalists (on Reddit/Twitter/etc.) is a bunch of typically wrong rumors, data and analysis. Every once in a while they get it right, but that's the rare exception. The reason people watch CNN et al is because biases or not, they're somewhat trusted to at least get the majority of their facts correct (and see below as to why I think all of these wishy washy adjectives).
I think this goes back into the curse of the 24 hour news cycle. It creates demand for sensationalism, "breaking" news. The speed that these news networks feel that they have to be have the exclusive does lead to errors, which leads to less trustworthiness in their reporting.
I just don't see the necessity of constant up to the minute news reporting. I consider myself a news junkie, but to me the important questions are usually answered after the fact anyways: "Why did this happen and what does it mean?"
I also have to wonder if this is part of our Constantly Connected Culture. People have to have their smart phone and be connected to every event constantly. I don't know if these phenomenon are somehow connected, but I would guess they are.
But again, are people that impatient about facts?