Reporting Current Events in Today’s Technology-Driven World

The majority of people today use cell phones and social media on a daily (often hourly) basis. We are constantly connected to friends, family, celebrities, and the news. Many now feel entitled to that information and the media – trying to keep up with the rapid pace of society – sometimes sacrifices accuracy for instant updates.

America in particular has become a culture of social interactions that largely take place online. Although the benefits of these developments are clear, the repercussions are just beginning to surface. Today, social media and the press fuel the fire in high-tension events. Violence makes up an overwhelming amount of the stories produced by even the most credible news engines.

Breaking news now constitutes as heated debates between opposing parties – political or otherwise. The news is made up of negative stories, vividly detailing our shortcomings as a country. Verbal attacks (in which the writer hides behind a computer screen and the first amendment) have become commonplace responses to even seemingly harmless articles.

Journalists are struggling to survive in the dying world of printed publications, some eventually resorting to morally questionable reporting tactics. Factual news and objective reporting is easily skewed amid the gray area of today’s media standards.

This is not to say that all hope is lost, and as long as good ideals continue to be instilled in those who will soon join the ranks of others in the journalism field. I believe that The Echo strives to maintain credibility and seems to achieve it, perhaps due to its contrast to the greater news-reporting monster as a whole. The Echo does not have to worry about the large-scale corporate pressure and millions of watchful eyes consuming its work. Being a smaller publication takes some of the pressure off and allows our journalists to grow into respectable reporters and learn a great deal by simply practicing the craft.

I certainly credit my experience on The Echo with impacting how I consume and process news. I examine each piece of information for underlying bias and accuracy. I look for the components of a well-rounded piece and reflect on story’s implications about society as a whole.

There is sure to be many more changes in the media during my lifetime. Although those changes are difficult to predict, the reporting of current events will constantly adapt to the needs of society. Whether or not the developments prove to be beneficial remains to be seen.

There will always be aspiring journalists, searching for the truth and defending morals in an attempt to push the boundaries and defy expectations. What our society must learn is to listen to differing opinions and embrace working together within the media.