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People with consistent conservative and liberal views tend to closely follow government and politics news. They also play a leading role in political discussions with others, according to research. But does consuming such news actually affect their beliefs or hardens their original positions?
Civic Journalism
In the 1990s, the movement known as civic journalism (or public journalism) called for a reconsideration of journalistic practice. It argued that journalists should not act in a vacuum, but instead work with the community to shape their news. Its proponents hoped that this approach would improve democracy by aligning newsroom practices with the ways that citizens form publics.
The movement was not without its critics, however. More traditionally minded editors and reporters worried that it would discourage hard-hitting investigative journalism, and undermine the independence of the press. The term “civic journalism” was also vague, making it easy for its detractors to dismiss it.
Today, engaged journalism is a much-evolved descendant of civic journalism. Its proponents have reframed the question, and have started to consider how newsrooms can support a vibrant public square, even in a time of diminished resources. In addition, they have begun to think about how to use data to understand the impact of their journalism.
As the world evolves, citizen journalism will continue to expand. It is a vital source of information on issues that might not be covered by traditional media outlets. Its growth is being driven by the availability of technology and the rise of social media.
It is important to understand the effects of this phenomenon on society. As a result, researchers need to study the psychological aspects of these changes. They should conduct a number of studies, including longitudinal research to assess change over time and comparative analysis between neighboring countries.
It is clear that civic journalism plays an important role in our democracy. A lack of local news leads to less civic engagement, and it can contribute to partisan divisions in the country. In addition, it is important to provide people with unbiased information about candidates and issues. It is also helpful to encourage citizens to take action on problems they see in the news. In order to do this, it is necessary to include possible solutions in watchdog coverage. This is especially true in local politics, where local media is often the first to reveal a crisis and draw sustained attention to it.
Social Media
Social media platforms allow citizens from across the political spectrum to connect online. These networks are often sources of news and opinions about current events, but they also offer a window into the political beliefs and attitudes of individuals who share their connections. While some scholars have argued that these platforms create echo-chamber environments, others have cited their positive effects on civic engagement and democracy.
A recent study examined the political content of ten million Facebook users. It found that, although most friendship links cluster within ideological groups, a substantial number of friends cut across ideologies. As a result, Facebook users are exposed to a more diverse range of political views than the typical media consumer.
The researchers also studied how these different viewpoints affect the users’ behavior. They used a nationally representative panel survey to examine cross-sectional and time lagged relationships between media use and unfriending. They accounted for demographic, political, and media orientation control variables. In addition, they modeled the interaction effect of uncivil political discussion on the relationship between media use and unfriending.
They found that both media use and uncivil political discussions were associated with unfriending. However, the effect of uncivil political discussion was stronger than that of media use. This suggests that the social media environment may be less effective at filtering out controversial political material than traditional media outlets.
The researchers suggest that this could be because people’s reactions to uncivil political discussions are stronger than their reactions to the media in general. In addition, the authors note that they may have underestimated the influence of uncivil political discussions on unfriending. Their results should be interpreted with caution, as the sample size was relatively small. The researchers should replicate their study using larger samples, and they should include a wider variety of social media platforms. Moreover, they should analyze the impact of other variables, such as political ideology, on unfriending. This will help them determine the true effect of social media on democracy. They should also look at the effect of social media on political polarization and civility in society.
Legacy Media
Legacy media refers to established mass media institutions that predate the Internet, such as newspapers, radio and television news programs. They coexist with new media, which are the outgrowth of technological innovation. This means that traditional media outlets must adapt to these changes in order to survive.
These changes have influenced the way people consume news and information. New media is more interactive and provides information at a quicker pace than legacy media. It also allows for a more personalized experience. Moreover, it is more likely to include user-generated content and social media feeds. In contrast, legacy media often focuses on high-quality journalism and in-depth reporting. In fact, some of these institutions have become so entrenched in their own perspectives that they fail to connect with a wide swath of the public. This is especially true during political protests and elections. A significant portion of the public perceives journalists as removed elites who do not share their conservative values.
A number of efforts are being made to preserve legacy media. For example, the Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar has introduced a bill to tax tech companies to help support traditional media. However, these efforts are misguided. It is not appropriate to subsidize up-and-coming industries simply because they compete with old ones. Instead, legislators should encourage new media by promoting transparency and competition.
Despite the challenges that traditional media faces, it remains a viable source of information. Nevertheless, the media must work to improve its quality and find ways to make itself more financially sustainable. As a result, it may need to adopt new business models and partnerships. It must also reassess its goals and mission.
The challenges that the media faces are complex and require a new understanding of how to navigate the changing media landscape. It must be able to understand its audience and identify the best channels for reaching them. In addition, it must balance the needs of its audience with its own financial goals. It must also recognize that the current media landscape is an artifact of the underlying hardware technology and that something better will eventually emerge.
New Media
New media are the electronic communications that have developed as a result of technological innovation. They include websites, social media platforms, email, Internet telephony and a wide range of online interactive applications. New media has significantly altered the way in which information about politics is disseminated. It has also changed the nature of political communication and impacted the public’s access to information and participation in politics.
As a whole, the current political information landscape is increasingly complex and fragmented. The vast network of new media allows content to circulate at lightning speed, relaying news and opinions without the filtering, fact-checking or editorial judgment that is intrinsic to legacy forms of mass media. New media can also be used by individuals without prior journalism training or a reputation for credibility to reach many users at a moment’s notice.
The diversity of political information on new media is reflected in the fractious nature of discussion that takes place. Speech on new media skews toward the incendiary, and frequently devolves into ad hominem attacks. It is difficult to distinguish between facts and fabrications, which are readily available on the Web (Graham, 2017).
While the development of new media has enabled politicians to do an end-run around the watchdog press, it has also expanded the potential for citizen engagement in politics. Many civic organizations use new media to communicate with their members, recruit volunteers and organize political action. In addition, social movements, such as the Free Hugs campaign, have used new media to spread their message and gain widespread attention.
SNHU offers an online communications degree program that equips students with the skills necessary to navigate the fast-paced world of new media. Learn more about the curriculum and how it can help you prepare for this exciting career field.
