iParticipate Seven

I interviewed my parents about their experiences with television and cable news. They both watch our local news station, WBKO, as well as WAVE, Headline News, and even BBC news.

The impact televised news has had on my parents has been different for both of them. My mother stated that events like the JFK assassination and the 9/11 attacks were "devastating. It seemed like everything stopped and nothing was important but looking for answers." My father remembered the Mercury and Apollo space launches from when he was a kid. He said "it was the biggest thrill a kid could get," watching those spaceships launch into space.

Both of their attitudes toward televised news have changed. Mom said she doesn't watch the news as much anymore or will change the channel while watching it because of all the negative news and violent crimes they choose to show. Dad said he doesn't trust the news channels because they all have an agenda. He also noted that the news channels choose to publicize negative stories. He said he gets most of his news online from Yahoo! News, instead.

My father noted that one news show on WAVE (he couldn't remember the name of it, but it comes on at 6:30 p.m. central time) starring Dawn Gee, has a good balance of negative and positive news. He said, "Dawn Gee will cry when she tells a sad story, and she does this thing called "pass the cash" where she helps people in need. It's a really good news show." My father also noted that he watches BBC news because it seems to be less biased than the American news channels.

As far as television news experiences that stick with my parents, for Dad it was the space missions. My mother said natural disasters and mass murders stick with her, although she wishes they wouldn't, and they make her thankful that her loved ones are safe.

I believe my parents are correct in stating that the news channels have an agenda and that they mostly publicize negative events. I can see why someone would get their news online, as opposed to television. The fact that negative stories on a grand scale stick with my mother shows the power the news channels have in showing these negative stories, and them having a lasting effect on the viewer.