By Ananya, Avantika and Pardhavi
A recent report by the Reuters Institute found that more and more people are avoiding the news. On average, 38% of those surveyed said that they often or sometimes avoid news on certain topics — especially politics and COVID-19. This news avoidance among young people is a matter of concern, mainly because this generation involves so many future changemakers who are willing to change the norms in our society.
For this, they need to be aware of the current affairs that directly or indirectly affect them. Our relationship with the news is one of indifference. Although post-COVID, most of our peer groups have really become glued to gaming, social media, and the unending world of OTT, but when it comes to the news, it’s considered boring and for adults only. This led us to dig a little deeper by talking to my classmates. Ananya interviewed her friend Ayesha, Avantika interviewed Rivi and Pardhavi interviewed Aahna.
Ayesha is a fifteen-year-old who has a keen interest in crime and psychology. She admitted that the news had a negative effect on her mood. She was rarely ever cheerful after consuming the news. She also pointed out the biasness and the increase in fake news today, how she can never find any trustworthy sources. After being asked who she blames for these problems in the news, she said that “I cannot blame anyone except the people. They let this happen; they let this come into being. And now they are the ones who are facing the consequences.“
Rivi, in particular, avoided topics like religion and politics while watching the news as she felt that they contained biased reporting. She believed that journalists favour one side, whereas according to her, journalism is to deliver the news rather than show this biasness. Avantika resonated with her. She also believes that news channels twist the news to gain TRP and more viewership; she vocally stated, “They are turning the news to something that will sell, something that people would be interested into, they add that little spice which would get the viewers interested, as being honest, no one likes watching boring stuff, they all want to watch the spicy stuff.”
Aahna said that she avoided watching the news most of the time because she would rather surf the internet for recent updates and concise news headings. This helped her in acquiring the latest happenings around the world quickly. She said, “People like me usually avoid the news as it is very boring at times, it does not always come to the point, and people mostly would like to see something entertaining.“
We believe that there should be good journalism as well, but that will need the effort to discover and encourage. But are we willing to search for it? For what we seek, that we find.