A Need for Information

My generation is often referred to as the “Now Generation” because of our constant need to be connected.  Most people have a phone on them at all times and as any teacher can tell you, it’s not easy to get us to put them down for any amount of time.

We are always connected with our phones, laptops or tablets.  We want as much information in the smallest amount of time.

Along with the need for information comes a need to get that information fast.  If you ask a normal class of students if they watch the news every night, very few would raise their hands.  Most people my age get their information from sources that are going to provide the fastest grouping of information.

The company I work for, Newsy, is one example.  It puts together multiple angles and sources on the same story in an attempt to give the viewer a fair view of what is being reported.

Morning Rush and TV Replay for the Huffington Post have the same ideas.  They take the highlights from morning talk shows or daily television shows and throw them together. 

All of these sites allow the viewer to get a large amount of information into their heads without taking the time to watch the talk shows or even reality tv shows. 

Throughout my entire education, I have been told repeatedly that the world of journalism is changing.  There’s no doubt about that piece of information, it’s definitely true.  Information needs to be as immediate as humanly possible and as concise as possible.  This means that, as a journalist, we are being taught to get stories written, filmed and posted faster than ever before.  We just saw the change out at KOMU: 4 hours from the beginning of a shift to the show you're working for.