Is High Quality News Really Worth it?
The media is an integral part of our lives, as crucial a component of our everyday life as food and water. Yet, unfortunately the quality of the news today is declining. Reporters are covering topics they should not, stories that are too sensational to sustain interest, politicians and their excess baggage of scandal and corruption overshadowing the substance of news. Worse, sensationalist news is becoming a thing of the past.
It is no wonder that interest in the news is at an all-time low. It is critical for news organizations to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. With information being disseminated by hundreds of media sources, quality news will have to be subjective. Subjective news is not necessarily bad, but it should not be the first source of information presented to the public. Today, with increasing Internet access and mobile phone technology, quality news can be more accessible than ever before.
Reporters should attempt to remain objective when covering stories. They need to be clear about whether or not they are reporting “good” news or “bad” news. The latter should always be left to reporters and editors on the beat. It is no longer sufficient to rely upon outside sources that may not have your best interests at heart.
The world is quickly becoming a smaller place. With transportation costs remaining high and air travel growing, few people have the luxury of time to commute between place. Also, the current trend is toward self-publication. Many news organizations now publish their own online news, often at significantly lower cost than print publications. The news becomes more local, as well as global, as it makes its way from city hall to the editor.
The challenge for news organizations is to stay relevant while still covering all the various topics they must cover. Even with their limitations, news agencies should strive to remain well-rounded in their reporting. Otherwise, they will lose their core audience and professionalism.
In the end, quality news is the only thing that will draw your customers back. Whether you are a business or a consumer, you value high quality information above almost everything else. Whether you like it or not, you need to be first to know about world events and current affairs. Taking your news seriously not only helps you make smart decisions, but it also makes you appear important and credible. That alone can go a long way towards building a solid reputation and following.