Wednesday, February 6, 2008
My Media Habits
My media habits have been both shaped and changed by the technological revolution of the 1990's. I did not grow up with the Internet or cable tv, so my sources of news were my parents': the evening news with Walter Cronkite and the local paper. The only source of infotainment at the time was Johnny Carson's monologue. As an adult, I find myself going back and forth between the convenient sound bites of CNN, MSNBC, and Fox just to get a different perspective from my usual liberal bent. If I want to read, I go to the slightly more in-depth internet news. This offers more writing and a global perspective that I don't get from the Baltimore Sun. I have recently added BBC world and NPR news, which offers in-depth analysis of issues that don't get broadcast on other news outlets. I never watch network nightly news, which feels dated and very very narrow to me. Lastly, I watch The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and sometimes Keith Olberman, because I love the way they actually sneak true news analysis and commentary onto shows where you can also watch a three-way fight between Colbert, Stewart and Conan O'Brien. Brilliant! The best aspect of my news viewing is that I try to go to several sources to get different perspectives and hear about different types of stories around the world. Probably the worst is that I read too much celebrity gossip, because it is sometimes a nice relief from all the somber, distressing news stories out there. I have already tried to improve my news consumption by adding analysis to the sound bites and attempting to incorporate what I'm told into my own personal beliefs and critical thinking ability, instead of just accepting what the talking heads tell me.
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6 comments:
I found your blog very interesting! It is intriguing to read something written by someone from a generation other than mine. I found it especially neat that you watch shows like The Colbert Report. Do you find that their honesty through sarcasm has more value than a straight news report?
Hi Barbara,
After looking at a couple blogs, I saw that a lot of people said that celebrity gossip is one of their guilty pleasures and cited this as a bad habit. However, I feel that if you can balance your need for celebrity gossip with current events, which you seem to do by watching CNN, MSNBC, & FOX, then it isn't so bad.
P.S. I tried to go to the Obama Rally at First Mariner Arena, but I had work and couldn't get there early enough to get a seat!
Barbara
Your media consumption truly speaks in volumes of a generation that has come before us. In doing so you not only remind us of how far technology has came but you also in a way have taught us how important it is not to take it for granted. But, whatever you do don't be afraid to take advantage of the never-ending advancement of today's technology.
I would definitely agree that a lot of the times people are more focused on the celebrity gossip than on what "really matters." I am guilty of it too, but I doubt a lot of Americans would say they feel bad about it like we do. Some people are just unaware and they like it that way. There is that saying "ignorance is bliss" and I believe people really take that to heart. On the other hand, it is hard to blame them because of all the somberness of the news, like you stated. Sometimes you just want to know what is good in the world, or even just what is not bad.
oh celebrity gossip... the bane of my existence , however since i know you are an informed individual i feel i can over look that. Ha, it i nice to see that you are not stuck in old ways and have moved tot he internet for more information. Also it is nice to see that you are involved in media sources that appeal to my generation. I feel this is just amazing parenting on your part because if i'm not mistaken you said you had a teenage child. anyway i say your media habits are pretty sound.
I am really impressed that you manage to make time to be so well informed through so many sources and have noticed the biases that come with certain sources. And there's nothing wrong with with reading celebrity gossip/new, sometimes, it provides that re freshness that we don't always get from daily news about the war in Irag, etc. And, you sound like you on the right track in improving the little improvement needed on your daily media habits.
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