In class on Wednesday (03-31), we talked about what makes up news. I think something that is new information is news. It is not always ground-breaking material, but it is something we did not know before, and that is news. With all of the social media sites, an individual can get their news from a number of different sources. A few people in class mentioned how they check several different sites each day. We just need to be sure we are checking the validity of these stories and websites. I found a link to another blog about “What constitutes news?” and it talks about the social media sites and how anyone can “report” on anything, which is why it is important to do some background research on sites where news is being reported. For the most part, I feel that news is anything we did not know before, such as a recent development in a current event. The media technology we have today makes news accessible 24/7. It is also a way for people to get their news possibly faster than they would otherwise. People learned of Michael Jackson’s death through Facebook, Twitter, and internet news feeds. By the time the next scheduled news program played on television, tons of people already knew about it. These sites provide endless access to news stories and other issues that people are eager to read. They are a very popular way for many individuals, especially youth, to get their news information.

http://www.whatsnextblog.com/archives/2008/04/what_constitutes_news_now_that_everyone_can_be_a_reporter.asp