Does the news need to change?
Whilst recently browsing twitter I stumbled upon a video with the same title as this article. Intrigued as to what critique of modern reporting it would offer, I clicked on the link.
The video was created by Bite News, a relatively new YouTube channel that seeks to provide a new platform that will eventually deliver ‘primary source news, issue based content that young people can relate to.’ The premise so far sounds appealing, I would say that young people would like to see more news content aimed at issues that affect them. However, doesn't current news media do that? The current U.S led bombing against IS? Ed Milliband’s proposals for the lead up to the next general election? The withdrawal of Russian troops from Eastern Ukraine? Supposedly not, according to Bite News.
Furthermore, their critique of current news outlets seems to go against the definition of news, as stated by the many YouTube celebrities who feature in the video.
It feels like a different world. You’re watching a guy in a suit, telling you about people you don’t know, and places you've never been. — Ninebrassmonkeys
Well, isn't that the definition of news? So unless you don’t know who somebody is, young people don’t want to hear about them? The vast majority of us never have, nor likely will, travel to Syria. Yet, according to Bite News, news is irrelevant if it’s source is from a place you've never visited first hand. Furthermore, another criticism they lay at news organisations is that its content is often depressing.
It just gets everyone in a down mood, and why would anyone want that? it needs to be fixed. — Harrison Webb
Although this may be true, it certainly does not make it any less important. Imagine a world where only positive, cheerful news stories would be broadcast. The 10 o’ clock news would certainly be shorter. But, more importantly, would Bite News rather the important, monumental stories of our world be left to the side, purely because they’re depressing? Just think of the huge, consequential stories of the last decade that would fall into this category. I believe it’s a positive sign that our young generation wish to influence and play a role in our society, of which news is a large part. But claiming that the news ought to be ‘fixed’ of its depressing content is both incredibly naive and rather impossible.
The overall message of Bite News is that current organisations, such as the BBC, do not present news in a format which is small and simple enough for the young to understand. Well, as a member of our youth, I find this to be quite patronising. When something is condensed, important information is lost, which, is the key component of a good news story. Instead of reducing world events to 30 second videos, or 140 characters, we should embrace and encourage the intricacies of our world, which is far from being simple. The problem is not the news, nor the organisations who report it. Rather, this backlash from young people is a lack of understanding and education. Politics and world events are rarely taught in schools, and fewer chose to study such subjects later on. Compulsory education would focus our youth on discussing, debating and solving the many problems that afflict our world. This article is by no means a categorically defence of the status quo of our current news organisations. The phone-hacking scandal clearly proves that they are worthy of criticism and reform, and such rhetoric should be welcomed.
However, changing the format or fitting the presenter into the latest fashion won’t genuinely engage us young people in the news. Only education can do that.
