The Flow of News Into Society
When we think of news, we think of where we get it, who gives it to us and the content that we receive. In 2021, all social medias give us all the news we could want to know so gathering your news is just as simple as opening your phone to your favorite app.
How do you get your news?
The two-step flow theory is an important part of gathering our information.
The two-step flow theory is that explains that the diffusion of information through opinion leaders before reaching an audience.
With gathering information you must think about who you are getting it from. When I get my news I tend to get it from two different media platforms including Snapchat and Twitter. The Daily Mail on Snapchat is one of the new platforms that I enjoy getting my news from. This news outlet is filtered through the Daily Mail editors that decide what to put on the app and what not to put, but the editors also skew those articles to provide the information we want to hear.
Its Daily
The Daily Mail is known as a tabloid that spreads hateful messages and is on one side regarding world and celebrity news. This shows the two-step theory in that the editors are using manipulation skills to give the reader a captivating headline and then give the information they planned on giving. The editor is the filter and the opinion leader in the two-step flow theory right before we receive that information and news. This shows how we have formed opinions about the topics featured on The Daily Mail just by how they are written.
Does the bird carry your news?
Twitter news goes though a filter just like The Daily Mail but the news found on Twitter seems straight from the source.
The news we get from Twitter is in the moment, LIVE or right after it happens. The news found on Twitter is more to the point and honest and that is something I look forward to reading. It seems like its a real post and the news that is featured makes it online before anyone has an opportunity to tamper with the information.
The Two-Step
The Two-Step Flow Theory really has a hand in most news outlets and social media news. I think for some outlets it benefits them because having a filter can be the best to get right to the point and to catch the attention of the reader faster. It does seem that just because you catch the attention of the reader doesn’t mean the information is morally or ethically correct but the filter that is goes through determines the result.
Is No News Good News?
This theory shows me that when and where I get my information it could be altered by an opinion leader to get me to understand and sway me to be “on their side” and share the same opinion. Using platforms like Twitter interest's me more because of the consistency and urgency of the posts. I recommend platforms like Twitter because of those benefits.
Next time you receive your news think if the two-step flow theory affected that news!
