Most people tend to equate watching the news with being intelligent. So the theory goes, if you are an intelligent, thoughtful person, you will surely want to be kept up-to-date on news, politics, business and cultural happenings in the world.
But the problem with this theory is that, more often than not, we tend to be inundated with an overabundance of news stories and updates, the majority of which are predominantly negative, and by nature stress-inducing.
A new research study from Sweden demonstrates that young adults tend to experience news fatigue and are overwhelmed with information from news outlets. Yahoo news is reporting that the study found the news consumption habits of young adults to be significantly different from other generations.
Particularly, the news consumption habits of 18 to 34 year-old adults were analyzed by the researchers. Participants in the study came from the United States, India and Great Britain and were from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The study was funded by the Associated Press, which is seeking a new model to present news media to young adults in the digital age.
The results of the study were in some ways surprising; young adults were looking for more detail and in-depth analysis in news reports. Simultaneously, it was discovered that most young adults tend to access news while performing other activities, such as carrying on conversations, or checking their e-mail, and can easily feel overwhelmed with to much non-necessary information. The study noted that this represents a major shift from previous models of news consumption, where individuals sat down specifically to watch the evening news or to read the day’s paper.
The new study also suggested that news media outlets must compete with a host of other activities, as young adults become more adept at multitasking, and have only limited time to access the news.
But even though younger adults rarely devote their undivided attention to the news, they still demand a great deal of detail and analysis in their news stories. While this may seem like a contradiction on the surface, researchers are looking at ways in which the most important details and analysis of a news event can be listed quickly at the top of an article.
The use of bullet points and other lists which have become so popular online, could also provide a new model for presenting the news in both the print media and broadcast and cable television.
The bottom line is that younger adults want more in-depth news coverage, but presented in a more user-friendly manner, which enables them to get the information they need quickly. Without being overwhelmed with extraneous information and endless updates.
If people cut out all “entertainment” and focus on the “news”, they’ll (easily) be taking back control in face of the onslaught of useless blabber going on the mainstream (and even indy) media.
Comment by Claude Gelinas — July 4, 2008 @ 12:05 am