Mass Communication

What forms of mass communication, such as print, radio, television, or the Internet, do you use most often to obtain information about local and national news stories?

The form of mass communication that I used the most is the Internet and radio more than the others. I do watch some of the news stations when I get a chance, but very seldom do I get to. Probably more of the print form is what I use second to the Internet.

Why do you use these over other media options?

I do not have a lot of the time to watch a lot of television because of my busy life style. I happen to be on line more than I am able to pick up a remote and watch the news. Now I do watch it when get a chance or if I am in a coffee shop or McDonald’s for that matter. Another reason for this is it is so much easier to log on to one of this news stations website and watch whatever breaking news or interview directly from my lap top. The Internet is like having all of the forms in one. Now I am one that is still old fashion and I do like the writings that are still in print so I do pick up the newspaper at the local stand or coffee shop as well as a way to not get too carried away in the new technology era.

Provide examples that describe how each form of mass communication influences society’s opinions about a specific person, event, or place. 

Well this is actually a very good question and I find myself just searching for the right thing to say here. I believe that news on a television unit can be influential because not everyone reads the paper and not everyone has access to the Internet, so a lot more people in my opinion probably watch more news on television so this is where the majority of our society gets their information from. I think that…well to a degree a lot more elderly people read the paper more that the younger generation, now I know that is not fully true because I am only 23 years old and still like to sit at the table with a cup of coffee and read the newspaper like anybody else does, but if we were going to be stereotypical then I guess it would be more of considered to be elderly if you read the paper. So with that said I think that a lot of the times this is influential only to the older generation and sometimes that local paper is more directed to the local area then if you were to watch CNN or Fox News or ABC or what have you, all these news stations are more global if you will.

How have advances in technology affected the delivery of news?

Well like I said earlier I think that with the invention of the Internet the delivery of news has been out of this world literally. With all the satellites orbiting the planet we are able to send anybody from just about anywhere and kind of news that we want to. You really do not have to pick up a newspaper or a remote to watch and find out what is happening out in the world all you have to do is log on to your home computer connect to whatever Internet browser that you use and surf the web to find anything and everything. It’s almost scary how it has taken over so many media mediums. Now grant it there are some stories and news that these news station only will deliver on television or by paper that will never be on the Internet…well unless you give it time. Some of the “big stories” are still written on news ink and seen on television before they ever make it to the Internet. That is until someone like you or me can find a story before anyone else and broadcast over the web first before these news stations and newspaper companies ever get word of it and imagine what stories we can find.

What criteria do you use to determine the credibility and accuracy of your news sources?

Well with me the way I determine if the news is credible or not is where it comes from and who is delivering it. For example I watch a story on CNN and…Well my mother always told me to not believe everything that I hear and watch on T.V. so I have to be very careful who or what my source is. I myself really like Fox News over CNN, but then again there are a few reporters and journalists that I think are credible when it comes to CNN, Wolf Blitzer is one. I really like the local city newspapers as well. Examples New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Wall Street Journal, and so on these are some of my favorites and what I look to. I even like these above websites as well. I know that they are credible because these news companies have been around for years and have lasted and have stood time and growth.