This is a posting on the latest trends in news gathering among Americans. Are we seeing a disparity in society along news gathering lines as many would have us believe is happening along economic lines? You might also want to sit down and talk to your daughters!

 

The latest Pew Research on news consumption has good news and bad news – and more changes on the way.

 

First, the good news. More people are turning to the Internet for news and information. Although only 13-percent are voracious news gatherers on the web, that number seems to be growing.

 

Add to that the 23-percent that watch TV news but supplement their news gathering with information on the web, you get 36-percent who either solely use the web or in conjunction with TV news.

 

I believe this is a good sign. As I mention in my book, that combination is the best way to understand news events. Use the Internet and its wider array of sources to gain a fuller understanding of events; then go to TV to visualize and grab the emotion of an issue.

 

Despite the faults of TV news, the boob-tube has two benefits – immediacy and emotion. Breaking news is the forte of TV. Say what you want about our talking head friends (yes I was and probably still am one of them), but they excel at warning you. Sure, they may overdo it. But they rarely fail to shout out danger. That’s why I always recommend you turn on TV news in the morning while you’re getting ready for work or starting your day.

 

The hope is that news consumers are reviewing a variety of sites and sources to gain what Fox News claims but fails to deliver – fairness and balance. The Pew study doesn’t describe if these voracious news viewers check many points of views.

 

The other good news is that these interested news consumers are the most affluent and educated. As a result, the news media will start trying to reach them – using more intelligence.

 

And this is the change that continues to happen – thanks to technology. Once your big screen TV and your computer morph into one, (I think this will be ubiquitous by 2010) the news will be more directed to America’s smarter folks. Currently local TV news seems to cater to less affluent, less educated women from 25 to 45. As a result, we get more entertainment news from our local newscasts.

 

This leads to some bad news from the Pew Study. Thirteen-percent of people are totally “disengaged” from news. And most of these folks are young and women. That’s scary. Yes, they’re young and they have other more pedestrian, fun interests. I’m not saying we should deny them that. Heck, I watch sports with the zeal of a teenager. My fear is this: the older generations right now are spending a lot of the younger generations’ futures and these kids have no idea. We’re so anxious to secure the rights of the unborn; how about thinking about the young who are still in a womb protected from news and information? The flip side, and the study doesn’t mention this, is the increased interest of young folks in politics thanks to the Obama campaign.

 

Still, we need to make news and politics more relevant to our kids – especially our young women. In my book, I use the example of Amber Frey, the woman who was romantically involved with Scott Peterson, who is now in prison for killing his wife and unborn child and dumping their bodies into the ocean. Amber Frey failed to see news stories on Scott’s pleas for his missing wife – for five days. Although she was in no danger at that time, she could have been. Furthermore, her story reveals how out of touch she was. It’s frightening to think young women are so fixated on Britney, Lindsay, and Jessica. Maybe Gov. Sarah Palin is the answer here.

 

The other bad news is that 46-percent of news viewers get all their news from TV. Unfortunately, TV is an entertainment medium. So, folks will be getting information that has some drama or comedy. As a result, we get extremist or exaggerated view points that offer black and white, but fail to deliver gray.

 

This study proves some of my theories about America’s disenchantment and mistrust of the news media and the lack of knowledge and education most Americans endure.

 

The majority of Americans are not stupid or apathetic. They’re busy. Whenever I give a speech or seminar, someone always tells me how their work, their family obligations, their education, or caring for an elderly parent robs them of truly getting informed. Who can argue with them?

 

The news media has failed to meet the public’s needs – especially those who want real news. TV adds the entertainment bells and whistles to get a bigger audience while turning off the most important viewers. But that’s all TV knows how to do. It’s the same thing credit card companies do: who has the time to read the pages and pages of small print legalize that buries the hidden fees and surprise rates?

 

Unlike credit card companies that have bigger lobbyists, the news media realizes it is losing audience. I think (and here’s a buried gem that you may notice in the future) that a ten-minute newscast delivered on computer, Ipod, cell phone, or some device other than TV – with a balanced and fair perspective – might be a winner.

 

In the meantime, what can you do?

 

First and foremost, if you have a daughter, educate her on the importance of being informed. If not for the enjoyment of learning, at least implore her to “stay in touch” for her safety.

 

Second, read my book. Let me give you pointers on how to gather information quickly. With my tips, I’ll have you reading four newspapers a day in less than 30 minutes.

 

Third, talk about what’s happening in the world in an engaging way with others. Stop the partisan talk about how liberal Obama is or how far right McCain is running. Discuss an issue knowing both sides – not just the bloviating from cable and talk-radio yakkers. And make sure to listen to others.

 

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