Current reports indicate that many American's are no longer reading their headlines, nor do they relax in front of the evening news. Several American's, this reporter spoke with, say that they get their information from email forwards. While mostly unreliable and often a complete fabrication, many of America's population have decided this is a much more convenient way to get information.
One such person explained to me, "Im just not interested in things like ,'Who's the new President' or 'What war we're fighting.' I'm more concerned with which local shopping malls are unsafe because of a serial rapist... or what celebrity has cellulite. Can the news tell me that?"
Sally, a middle-aged secretary from Katy,TX shared, "Its all good and well to know what's up in the world but, eventually someone will email me what I need to know. Why should I bother buying a newspaper or wasting my evening in watching boring news?"
This trend has led to lower news program ratings and some newspapers collapsing under the weight of poor sales. Other more stable newspapers are resorting to desperate tactics to attract readers. The Houston Chronicle is so eager to win back their female 18-55 demographic that they offer free grocery cards in exchange for slimmed-down subscriptions.
What we must ask ourselves is do we want a country of unread, uninformed citizens, who get their information from bored sixteen year-olds that are trying to get a laugh?
Posts
