PressEthic

A recent study done by the Knight Foundation finds that teenagers are becoming increasingly interested in the news. An article on Poynter discusses it:

When it comes to using the Internet, high school students not only pay attention to the news, they like traditional news sources more than most might think.

I was refreshed to read the results of this survey, especially given my experiences as a teenager. I remember having no interest in the news whatsoever because of the way it was presented. I felt like it was not written or broadcasted in a way I could relate to. The seriousness and tone of the news I was encountering alienated me from it. Things I saw on the news seemed too complicated and mature for me to understand. I usually only turned to the news if it involved schoolwork.

Looking back, I definitely wish I would have become more engaged in worldly issues. It would have shaped my interests and passions in a healthier way. Now more than ever, I have seen resources that make news more accessible to teens, and I have even seen teens responding to this actively. At the recent Darfur peace rally in Central Park, I was surprised to see a majority of teenagers and younger people, many of them wearing "Teens 4 Peace" stickers. The Associated Press is also trying to cater to this younger generation online with their ASAP campaign, a way of bringing younger people news on their terms. I can definitely see the results of the Knight Foundation being played out in many different arenas. I simply assumed that teenagers were more caught up in the microcosm of their high school world. Another article on Poynter points out:

"The notion is that no young person cares about the news, and that is wrong," he said. "They're moving to a different distribution mechanism."

There are some things to be wary of, however. The first article on Poynter says:

A majority of high school students find TV, followed by newspapers, to be the most accurate news sources. They don't trust the accuracy of blogs, according to the survey.

While it is good that teens are looking for accuracy, I am a little skeptical about finding it on TV. I am especially worried about teens getting their news from entertainment shows like "John Stewart" and "The Colbert Report." On the one hand, these are meant strictly for entertainment purposes and are not adequate news sources. On the other hand, if listening to John Stewart's political jokes gets teens thinking about things going on in the world, then he's done a good job. It seems like shows like this could at least encourage young people to develop an opinion on relevant issues and bring news to their level.