Consider water as a metaphor for news. In some ways it is essential to life – it has information critical to either success in life or even to continued existence.
It flows and changes with distance and time. It can be an overwhelming torrent or a rapidly dissipating drop of water as it hits hot metal. Or it can be so far in the background that it doesn’t seem to exist.
Since leaving the world in which news is an everyday torrent, my take on news has changed.
While in the business, the urgency, the rush, the need to seek out information and get it on air was life. Every new fact…every new story…everything was I-M-P-O-R-T-A-N-T (and capitalized) with !!!! exclamations!!!
Yes, there was balance – of a sort. Some stories were obviously more weighty and had more impact. Some were merely informative. Some were quite frankly fluff. But they all had to be turned around for the audience ASAP.
Reflecting from a distance (in both time and proximity), what people IN the business thought (and still think) is (you capitalize this time) important may not necessarily be to the audience for a number of reasons.
As a now normal citizen, I am concerned about the world around me. I want to know the news of my community…however mundane. Weather…education…politics. State, national, world news…yes.
Do I really care if there was a drug raid or shooting in Sacramento? The return question is – does it directly impact me or those I know and care about? Yes, I care about crime…but am more interested in overall trends and crime in my community.
That same questions applies to politics…weather…pretty much all news. I want to know about MY community, but also want to keep on top of trends that will eventually impact my community. Which is why I keep an eye on the bigger picture…the more worldly view.
I’m no longer sucked into yet another accident (and don’t get me going on that theme…almost losing my husband has made me back off a bit from the adrenalin rush I used to get when those red lights appeared) or fire or possible pedophile.
I’m not sure if it’s because I’m older or because I’m no longer in news…but my approach is more cautious…no longer a news-junkie, I read, view, listen with purpose. The purpose – to inform and educate myself.
In the future, this theme will re-surface in postings on thinknews… where we will look at where the media has been, where it is now, and where it is headed. The bright promise is that the best will prevail and the audience can access factual information which will enrich their lives and empower them. The fear is that journalism will become driven by the lowest common factor (i.e., the biggest audience).
Finally…this is a discussion we want you to join in. Thoughtful comments are always welcome. Please do sit down a spell and let us know what you think.
Posted by Cyndy Green
