It’s no secret that news is as ubiquitous as it’s ever been, but this abundance of information need not be overwhelming — if society learns how to think critically about the news and the sources it comes from. It can be a luxury to have a variety of news sources that cater to all demographics, opinions and interests, but the challenge that comes with this having this level of information available is not all of it is accurate. News that is updated constantly, particularly news on social media, is a defining characteristic of today’s news but is especially prone to inaccuracy. Media literacy is key for consumers today, as they must be able to think critically about the news they encounter — is it reliable? is it biased? does it tell the complete story?
While this process may seem challenging, it is something people are naturally capable of doing, according to Richard Alleyne, a science correspondent for The Telegraph. Although we’re exposed to more information than ever, Dr. Martin Hilbert of the University of California told The Telegraph we are far from the “saturation point,” the maximum level of information our brains can hold.
The journalist’s challenge is to maintain the audience’s dwindling attention spans, especially when it comes to continually updating stories that lose some of their “newness” appeal. Social media can be a vital tool for journalists, as they can reach a wide audience with timely story updates that give the story more immediacy and prevent it from fading, according to Brian Selter’s New York Times News Analysis, “From Flash to Fizzle.” Stories such as the Trayvon Martin case held people’s attention partly through social media. The use of social media can help journalists spread their story beyond their audience, too, when their readers share, like or retweet content, Selter said.