Changes in News

Changes in NewsIn a recent interview with the TV show 'This American Life', John H. Richardson, author of the forthcoming book entitled 'The Rise of Silas Lapham' says, 'The reality is that newspapers and magazines are not going to go away. It's just that they're going to change'.John H. is a professor at Columbia University and has researched the relationship between journalism and society for many years. This article discusses issues of news and commentary, yet it focuses more on the issue of paper topics, as well as the issues of identity, journalism, and ideology. This article will discuss these topics and others in relation to the issue of news.With regard to the paper topics, a recent article by Trevor Timm explains, 'One of the most disturbing trends in recent times is the rise of news websites that routinely post fake news articles'. In other words, 'news' websites, even those which focus on news, often post false or biased information, as the content is purposely designed to promote a particular viewpoint or agenda. Even if the information is factually correct, this article is typically used by people to agree with their point of view.There have been concerns about the increasing influence of individuals who self-identify as journalists over the public through paper topics and coverage. This, combined with increased reliance on social media and other media, means that people are less likely to trust the news, especially mainstream media sources. The rise of Silas Lapham, a professor at the University of Cambridge and president of the Royal Society of Arts, is seen as an example of this phenomenon. The professor was recently quoted saying that, 'If you read the Guardian or the New York Times, you know the people who run them are academics.'What is the difference? There is no difference at all,' he says. 'It is a complete phenomenon that we cannot quite grasp', adds Silas Lapham. Many consider him to be a radical and believe that his ideas, and those of other 'ideological journalists' are pushing mainstream media towards a new direction.And this new direction, according to a recent opinion piece published in the New York Times, will encourage companies to create 'automated bots' that respond to negative comments left on social media accounts, 'watching' for when users delete a post, or when certain keywords are used. These algorithms will also 'vote' and spread information and content in groups, providing more opportunities for advertisements, pushing the bounds of free speech to a new level.The New York Times also highlights that there is evidence that news media are becoming more about entertainment than news, and this is harming democracy. As this trend continues, the public may no longer trust the media, and this could lead to further abuses such as 'fake news' (information deliberately distributed for a political purpose) and dangerous leaks from government agencies. The rise of Silas Lapham is an example of the decline of the 'Mainstream Media', as it becomes increasingly important to consumers that they have a voice, especially when such voices become more limited, biased, and less trustworthy.The paper topics, as we have discussed, may be the key to improving media, particularly the manner in which people receive and interpret news. At the same time, the rise of Silas Lapham, the activist professor, reveals that the media landscape is slowly changing and thus potentially leaving traditional media companies, and their readers, in the dust. There are many other issues to consider when discussing the changes in media, and more complex and important ones that are discussed at great length in future articles.