Old School News

My parents were of the generation that received news via radio and news print.  In their early years only privileged families owned televisions.  I found a letter handwritten to my grandfather from my grandmother when she was away from him for an extended period of time.  She was visiting relatives in a different state, and stayed in contact with my grandfather via mail.  My father was a little boy at the time - not of school age.  In her letter she made reference to the fact that she and my father had joined the neighbors in watching 'the fight' "live" on a television.  She described it as being, "lovely" and, "so very exciting".  News print and radio offered daily coverage of local, national, and world news.

My generation received news by means of television, radio, newspaper, and magazine -- primarily television.  News stories were delivered as 'new' news in the morning, midday, and evening.  If you chose to stay up late, late night news was an option for day-end happenings.

This generation -- my kids' generation -- is experiencing news through what is now a climate of media convergence.  Newspapers, magazines, and television are all digitized, and available on demand 24/7.  Convergent journalism is also very much a part of this generation.  Text stories are now being merged with online video and audio -- enhancing the information experience.  Users (news consumers) can also provide feedback via online discussion boards, and are afforded the opportunity to post news openly apart from a publisher.  Citizen journalism is on the rise due to the Internet and social media.  Blogging and Wikinews offer citizens the opportunity to present their own material free of limitations.  Where Mass Media began as a one-sided delivery of filtered information, media convergence has allowed for an exchange of ideas and beliefs as well.

I'm not sure what my children's kids will experience in the field of news reception!  With Face Time and Skype -- who knows?  Maybe they'll be able to interact in a virtual realm with events as they unfold!  WHO KNOWS?!