Sound Bite" News, Americans Are

¶ … sound bite" news, Americans are less well informed now than in previous decades. As the technology continuously develops, people become more and more busy in adapting to the fast changing world where every second and minute of the day counts.

Hence, it seems that in most things, having the quickest and shortest possible way is a need and a necessity because "time matters." However, when it comes to news in America, which is supposed to provide people with enough essential information on the current events, it is unfortunate that having shortcuts and quick-turnarounds are also being applied. Thus, reducing the real context and essence of the news, and making the Americans less informed in terms of deeper level of current events as to "how," "why," or "what" really happened.

Indeed, "sound bite" news make Americans less well informed as compared to the previous decades. The entire nation of the U.S. must be concerned about this and should fight for their right against "sound bite" news. If analyzed, "sound bite" news can cause a great concern to America's capability to fight problems such as terrorism.

An immediate resolution to this is vital because the state of being less informed on the current events, especially these days that problems on terrorism take a serious toll on the Americans, endangers the American society into becoming weak and vulnerable to issues that risk the nation's safety, peace, and freedom. One important factor to maintain a nation's good condition is the cooperation provided by every citizen.

But in the case of "sound bite" news, how can the Americans do their part in helping the government if they are not aware of the current events around them? We should be reminded that the American society can also play a great role in maintaining America's freedom. Not everything can be solely relied on the government. For instance, after the 9/11 attack, news on terrorism is widely present in the media but the information given to the masses merely lacks deeper content and essence.

One reason for this, which is being hold on to by major government agencies, is to prevent fear and panic among the Americans. This, however, deprives the Americans of their right to be informed. Is it not better to let the American masses know of the current situation so that they can prepare themselves for anything that may happen? or, what if there are geniuses out there who have the capability, skills, and intelligence needed to help the government.

But because they are not well informed on the current events, they are unable to contribute to their nation. Sound bite news, particularly on critical subjects such as terrorism, can similarly destroy the American history and may affect the knowledge in history of the future American generations because the generations before them are incapable of telling the past events in a deeper level of context.

This problem is presently apparent in schools wherein students are unable to demonstrate good knowledge or provide sensible reactions concerning the current events around them because the media where they are supposed to learn do not provide sufficient information. As indicated by Philips Jenkins, from an interview with him concerning teaching terrorism, My usual line.