The news media (print, broadcasting and internet) report on current events and issues. These reports can inform the public about important national and international developments. They can also help readers and viewers make informed decisions about personal or community matters. The news media may promote specific political ideologies and opinions or encourage people to take positive social action during times of crisis.
Some research suggests that the way the news is presented can influence the amount of attention that is paid to lesser-known issues. For example, the public may become more concerned about global poverty or climate change if the topics receive greater coverage in the news media. This is especially true if the news is perceived as objective and credible.
In the past, printed news was phoned into a newspaper or magazine office and manually set in type for inclusion in an edition. Radio and television accelerated this process by allowing the rapid reporting of events as they unfolded. Today, cable news channels bring live news to the home in the same way that newspapers used to do.
When talking with a reporter, be concise and focus on your main points. If a reporter doesn’t seem interested in your idea, respect that and move on. Reporters have many story ideas to pursue and the continual onrush of deadlines makes it unrealistic to pursue every good idea that comes up. The same is true of scholars who are unable to turn every good research idea into a journal article.