In the last decade, media have changed radically, changing how we find and produce news. The traditional newspaper is no longer the main source of information, and online publications and specialty news sites are increasingly playing a prominent role. The number of people who gather their news from newspapers has decreased considerably. In addition, new forms of media, such as blogs and microblogging, are increasingly influencing how we receive news. So, where are these sources of information?
The study by Hamilton and Morgan examined the news ecosystem in one city. While the media landscape of a city was similar to that of the rest of the country, those in the highest income groups tended to consume local television news. Meanwhile, those with higher educational levels and better occupations were more likely to read local newspapers. The study found that people with higher education and higher income had higher news consumption. However, this association did not hold true for all types of news.
The literacy gap in the news has implications for both the production and delivery of local news. Friedland et al. describe the literacy gap as the lack of basic skills to use digital media. Moreover, this knowledge is required to access and use local news. This includes reading, using the internet, troubleshooting digital issues, and deciphering the obtuse language of politicians. Therefore, local news needs to take these factors into consideration.
In Baltimore, for example, a riot had occurred and the media were unable to get a hold of the story. The news coverage of the incident was dominated by television and radio stations. The news coverage was more reliable because of these new media outlets, but the political bias was not reflected in the media. The incident that led to the script being labeled as fake news only happened once, and fortunately, the news is not affected by this single occurrence.
Although there is still a need to make sure that local news sources are credible, the current trend is to create a map of where the most relevant news outlets are. This is the only way to ensure that the public has a complete picture of what is happening in the area and that it is accessible. It is important to note that the changing media landscape has caused more disparity in the production and distribution of local news. Currently, most local news is still driven by newspapers.
In the United States, newspapers make up the majority of news outlets. Radio and television are close behind newspapers. The two largest media platforms are newspapers. Despite these differences, the percentage of radio and television stations in these cities is still the same. In the same way, rural areas are largely news deserts. Regardless of where you live, there’s a good chance that you have a local news outlet. And if you’re lucky, you’ll have several options for how to get a local version of the event.