Throughout human history, news has been a source of information for citizens. As the media has evolved, so have the forms in which information can be obtained. Some of the early forms of news were newsletters and private newspapers, which were used to inform people about local events and issues.
In the twentieth century, radio and television were important means of transmitting news. In the internet age, news is consumed primarily through social media platforms and search engines.
The Pew Research Center surveyed 5,035 adults in the U.S. about what was new in the news world. It found that a small percentage of Americans get their daily news fix online. However, a much larger proportion of Americans watch TV or listen to radio to get their news.
The media has been plagued with scandals and fake news. It is common for reporters to claim to cover all sides of an issue without bias. This is not necessarily true. Several governments have imposed constraints on the press to prevent it from becoming too biased.
The media has also benefited from technological developments, such as live communications satellite technology, which has allowed cable news services to be available 24 hours a day. These services have created new opportunities for automated news gathering.
It is not uncommon for advocacy groups to pitch news stories to the media. Often, these stories include timely content, such as a scandal, or a local event. The media has become an effective and cheap way to reach policy makers and funders.