Changes Over Time

            The news used to be something in which a family would gather around the TV and spend quality time together to learn about the world around them. People would watch the news on TV at a particular time because the news was shown once, and if you missed it, you missed it. The news also used to be on the radio. Numerous people listened in their cars on their way to work while drinking their morning coffee. It was convenient for them this way. Many people also used to read the news in newspapers. The paper boy would drop the newspaper off at the front door of one’s home, and they would sit for a good hour and dissect the paper and learn about things that were relevant in the world.

            Of course, things have definitely changed. Less and less people have been using these media outlets to learn about what is going on in the world. People have everything at the tip of their fingers now. They do not have to rely on waiting for the news; they can get it whenever they want. There is no time constraint anymore.

            In my mass media and society class, we learned about the different affects messages have through different mediums, such as television, radio, and newspapers for example. We learned what affect time constraints have upon the message or the willingness to use these mediums to get information. I definitely believe that traditional media will become less relevant in the future. I feel like that it is already in the process of becoming less relevant to certain people. People are getting their information right when they want it. The internet allows them to receive constant updates that they do not have to wait around to learn about.

“Over the past few generations media has shifted from newspapers to the television. From the television news media became more mobile on the Internet with breaking news at our fingertips. I sit back in my chair and remember when I was a little girl with curly blond hair sitting in front of the television watching my morning Smurf cartoons and commercials. I had to get up out of my seat, walk over to the television, and actually turn the switch clockwise to change the channel. As we all know there are remote controls now, and we can just sit on the couch and push buttons to turn the channel. Television has gone from black and white to color with remote controls so you do not have to move.” (stagelife.com) This quote from a woman reflecting on how media has evolved over time demonstrates a direct example of how far we have come in terms of the media and its news stories. We have the advantage to become more knowledge about the world around us due to the availability of news. I think it is amazing to look back and see how it used to be, and recognize all of the advances that we have made.

Source:
http://www.stageoflife.com/Default.aspx?tabid=79&g=posts&t=2547.Hkidwell.2012 March 10. Web