In recent years, the mainstream media has experienced a significant decline in readership, which has led to a loss in advertisement revenue, staff reductions, and operation cutbacks. Some may believe this is due to the next generation being uninformed or not appreciating the written word. In reality, it is because of the corruption that has taken over all media outlets.
Many Americans feel that the proliferation of misinformation as of late has corrupted the mainstream media, and, according to a Gallup poll in 2021, only 36% of Americans have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly. This number has even dropped significantly in the 3 years since the poll. Republicans and Democrats alike believe that news outlets are biased in their coverage, which contributes to the already fractured political climate in the United States. As a result of this mistrust and the media’s (sometimes obvious) bias, many Americans have resorted to getting their news from alternative sources including podcasts, blogs, X (formerly Twitter) (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. This shift is indicative of this generation’s depleting attention span and change in how information is consumed, as many people now prefer to get their news through short social media snippets, rather than traditional long-form journalism.
With the rise of independent news outlets, viewers appreciate a greater diversity in viewpoints, which heavily contrasts the stagnant narrative they’d previously been accustomed to from mainstream outlets. However, many are concerned that this could create more misinformation. In an age where one click of a button can post an opinion to be viewed worldwide immediately, the line between facts and opinions can become blurred. Some believe this is a threat to national security, while others fight for what our forefathers wrote into the Constitution: freedom of speech. The rise of social media has contributed to this debate, with X and Facebook becoming minefields of misinformation from both parties. AI, deepfakes, and targeted ads pose even more challenges for the sites, proving this to be one of the most interesting times to be in the digital landscape.
Even our newsroom has felt the effects of the dying media, especially in 2022 and 2023. With a News Media staff of only five or six people last year, we worked diligently to maintain the quality of our reporting, while attempting to increase our readership. We noticed our peers’ preferences for alternative news formats and launched Maroon & White, our podcast, and we took over Maroon News, which features biweekly news videos. These initiatives have not only broadened our reach but also helped us attract new readers and expand our staff.
The truth is, maybe the mainstream media is dying, but have no fear and do not fret, because although mainstream media may fall, independent journalism will always be around to keep people informed. As the media landscape continues to change, our understanding of this will be vital to staying informed and ensuring journalistic integrity in the digital age.
