Communications
In spite of the wide range of news sources available on the Internet, I still get at least half of my current event information from television and occasionally from print media. I usually consult Internet news sources for more in-depth information or for immediately up-to-date headlines about an event unfolding at the moment. For entertainment I rely equally on Internet and television, because each offers a unique experience. The Internet permits live gaming, chatting with real people, and the chance to simply browse the Web for interesting sites or shopping. Television, on the other hand, offers full-length movies,-hour-long dramas, and half-hour shows that I like to watch for pure entertainment.
Although I have no one favorite broadcast media of mass communication, I often watch CNN. Their approach is what is increasingly commonly called "infotainment." Through sensational images, sounds, and graphics, CNN tries to make the news an entertainment product. Their anchors and prime time hosts are like celebrities: Larry King and Anderson Cooper. Points-of-view tend to be tame and mainstream: CNN dislikes controversy and plays it safe by not challenging viewers with alternative points-of-view on touchy subjects like the war in Iraq. As a result, I cannot rely on CNN to provide the full story on any issue, so if I am interested in a topic I will conduct a Web search on my own. Other cable news channels and the broadcast news shows also offer infotainment. Like CNN, the content and points-of-view generally do not challenge and I have found that the mass media underestimates the intelligence level of the viewers so much so that content is "dumbed down."
However, some television news sources are able to break the mold. Comedy news spoof program the Daily Show makes fun of the media's faults while at the same time reporting key headlines with a sense of humor. Similarly, the late night comedians on major networks, including David Letterman, also add a humorous twist on current events but focus more on celebrity gossip. In fact, celebrity gossip seems to be one of the most popular subjects for discussion on television news shows. I have also noticed little variety in the type of advertisements available and since paying more attention to the media have been more keen to discover which target audiences the advertisers were looking for when they placed their ads.
