I: DEFINING NEWS

 

When most people think of the news, they picture a brightly lit studio, a suited anchor sitting behind a desk, and polished voices delivering the day’s headlines. The urgent “breaking news” banner, the weather map glowing behind a meteorologist, and even the fast-paced theme music that signals importance are familiar stereotypes of what we’ve dubbed, “The News”. By definition, news is “a report of recent events”, but to me, the news is all of life outside of ourselves presented to us in mass delivery through communication. I’ve come to the conclusion that news is biased, far reaching, and most importantly, a double-edged sword.

News is  Biased

The thing about life is that no two people experience it the same way. Even if Professor Reppert and I go through the same event here at SAU, our outcomes and perspectives may differ because of our unique backgrounds. That same principle applies to news. Every reporter brings their own lens to a story, shaped by their life experiences and personal beliefs. In doing so, they not only relay events but frame them for the viewer. This adds subtle bias and possibly discrepancies that influence how the audience receives the information. For example, two well known news stations are CNN and Fox. Majoring in political science, I’ve come to know the biases of both stations: CNN to be liberal and Fox to be conservative. On August 21st of this year, both CNN and Fox released articles on the Supreme Court’s recent ruling to overturn a lower court’s ruling, which resulted in the cut of approximately $800 million to the National Institute of Health for research grants oriented on DEI and LGBT studies. Where CNN described the event as a “A heavily fractured Supreme Court [decision]”, Fox noted the decision as, “A major victory in the Supreme Court…”. While both of these can be true, the bias is inherent within the first words of these articles. While I would love to believe that news is always reliable, in line with my definition, it can never be a 100% functional tool because different experiences negate different truths of the matter. 

News is Fast and Far Reaching

News today moves at a speed that no other form of communication in history has matched. A breaking headline can flash across television screens within minutes of an event, and within seconds it spreads across phones through push notifications and social media posts. I view news as not only being the anchor on a television screen, but also the town gossip on a local Facebook page. This reach allows us to learn about events we might otherwise never encounter, from natural disasters on the other side of the world to updates on our own neighborhoods. The speed of news keeps us informed in real time, but it also means misinformation and rumors can travel just as quickly.

News is a Double-Edged Sword

While news can expand our knowledge on familiar subjects, expose us to perspectives we might never encounter, make us inquisitive, and fine tune our verbal and nonverbal communication skills, the broadcasting industry has also become responsible for some of the downward progressions of society. With evolving forms of media such as opinion-based news shows, podcasts, and short-form content creators, audiences can begin to echo the speaker rather than form their own ideas. This has contributed to a culture of easier manipulation and shorter attention spans. Even as a college student, I see students taking on the opinions of professors without questioning whether the claim is accurate. While there is nothing wrong with agreeing with a perspective, it is vital to research independently rather than accept information simply because we admire the person delivering it.

Opinion Podcaster and Content Creator, Brett Cooper

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There has also been an increase in hate due to bias. While I’ve covered that  most news outlets lean one way or another, the lack of transparency about these biases has heightened hostility in society. For example, during both the 2016 and 2024 election cycles, false narratives circulated claiming that Black Americans would be forcibly sent back to Africa or into slavery, a baseless rumor spread widely through text chains and social media, stoked fear and resentment for a new administration. 

In tandem with an increase of hate and division, there can be an increase in depression and anxiety due to the news. The constant reporting of crime and devastation can take a toll on the emotional health of a person.

News then, is a double-edged sword: it can enlighten, but it can also exhaust and mislead. I don’t see this as a reason to reject the news altogether, but rather as a reminder that we must engage with it critically if we want it to remain a tool for understanding rather than destruction.

Conclusion

As President John F. Kennedy once reminded us, “with great power comes great responsibility", 

and that includes the power we hold as consumers of news. In an age of constant headlines, rising data privacy breaches, and even paid advertising hidden within search engines and AI tools, it is more important than ever to approach information with discernment. We must be aware of our personal biases, understand who owns and influences our media outlets, and take the time to fact-check with older, more reliable resources such as books and academic databases. News will never be a perfect tool, but if we engage with it critically and responsibly, it can remain a force for awareness and connection rather than confusion and division.