State of the News Media

I have actually read the extensive research by The Project for Excellence in Journalism before, but found this introduction to be quite extensive in information without having to read its normal length in content. The research done was surprising and interesting, I knew that campaign coverage and the war in Iraq were present in the news holes but had no idea how present.

What I found most interesting was the study done on foreign policy related issues in the news. The "chicken or the egg" theory applies to the question of which came first, news organizations not covering foreign affairs because readers don't care, or readers not caring about these issues because news organizations don't cover it. I personally think that news organizations don't cover it because it doesn't sell as much as sensationalism does. But it is also the responsibility of the readers to buy and demand a more global news product.

The idea that news organizations are missing the "bread and butter" topics is also an important observation. Indeed, issues like health care, education and the economy require more attention to trends then to actual breaking news in each subject. As the new assistant news editor at the Ithacan I am dealing with this first hand trying to come up with story ideas that will pertain to students following national trends.

I found it surprising that more readers wanted to hear about gas prices. Working at the Albany Times Union this summer, I was constantly listening to writers and editors fight over ways to put a new spin on a story that dominated the whole summer. I personally have seen enough soccer moms filling up their gas guzzling SUVs for a lifetime.