News is information about current events that can be conveyed in a variety of different ways including word of mouth, printed media such as newspapers and magazines, postal systems, broadcasting, and electronic communication. News is often accompanied by images, video or audio to further enhance the impact and engagement of the information being shared.
The media plays a crucial role in disseminating knowledge and raising awareness about emerging issues [3]. The way a topic is covered can have significant impacts on people’s perceptions of and attitudes towards that topic, ultimately shaping their behaviors.
In recent years, social media has stolen the spotlight from major broadcasting networks like CNN and fueled a common news cycle known as “24-7 News”. However, with this shift of common news paradigms comes the rise in misinformation (false or inaccurate information that is spread widely despite whether there is the intention to mislead). Misinformation combined with the lengths broadcasting channels must go to sensationalize news in order to compete with social media has created an environment where media coverage is less reliable than ever before.
Choosing what to report can be as important as reporting on an event itself. The media’s choice to omit certain information can skew public understanding of an issue and create a one-sided view. For example, the media’s decision to focus on Israeli casualties in Gaza while omitting Palestinian casualties can influence audience empathy for both sides of the conflict. Furthermore, the media’s choice of what photos or videos to use can subtly influence how audiences perceive a particular conflict.