After Studying The Assigned Reading: 21st-Century Communicat

After Studying The Assigned Reading21stcentury Communication A Refere

After studying the assigned reading "21st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook," specifically Chapter 65: "The Changing Nature of 'News," this essay will analyze a current compelling news story based on the concepts of timeliness, proximity, unusualness, prominence, impact, conflict, and human interest. The discussion will include why the story is compelling and which concepts it exemplifies. Additionally, the essay will explore how these journalistic concepts have been challenged by the rapid immediacy enabled by modern news dissemination.

Paper For Above instruction

In recent times, one of the most compelling news stories is the eruption of the volcano eruption in La Palma, Canary Islands, in 2021. This natural disaster gained widespread attention globally due to its dramatic visual impact, extensive destruction, and the ongoing threat to local populations and ecosystems. The story exemplifies several journalistic concepts, making it particularly compelling to audiences worldwide.

Why is this story compelling? The volcanic eruption is compelling primarily because of its immediate visual spectacle and the human narrative intertwined with it. The dramatic eruption, with lava flows and ash clouds, offers a vivid and visceral experience for viewers, evoking awe and concern simultaneously. Human interest stories emerged as residents evacuated their homes amid fears for life and property, thus engaging viewers emotionally. Furthermore, the ecological impact showcased the vulnerability of nature and local economies dependent on tourism and agriculture, amplifying the story's global importance. Its ongoing nature, with lava flows threatening to reach inhabited areas, keeps audiences hooked as they follow updates, highlighting the concept of immediacy essential for compelling news (López et al., 2022).

Which concepts does it exemplify? The story largely demonstrates timeliness, as news outlets delivered real-time updates of the eruption as events unfolded. It also incorporates proximity, since the event took place in a geographically accessible location for many audiences, especially Europeans and those with ties to the Canary Islands. Unusualness, a key concept, is exemplified through the rare intensity and scale of the eruption, which is infrequent in La Palma's volcanic history. The story features prominence, as it involved notable figures such as government officials managing evacuation efforts and scientific experts analyzing the eruption. Its impact—on thousands of residents, local infrastructure, and the environment—was profound. Conflict emerges in the form of disagreements over evacuation strategies and economic repercussions, adding to the story’s complexity. Lastly, human interest is central, as stories of personal loss, heroism, and resilience resonate deeply with audiences (Hansen & Wessels, 2023).

However, the advent of immediacy in news release has challenged these concepts significantly. With social media platforms and 24/7 news cycles, stories are disseminated instantly, sometimes without thorough verification. This immediacy often emphasizes the most dramatic aspects—such as lava flows and explosions—over contextual analysis, potentially skewing perceptions and prioritizing sensational elements. The pressure to deliver real-time updates can lead to the neglect of nuanced understanding, thus diluting concepts like accuracy and comprehensive impact assessment (McGregor, 2021). Moreover, urgency can diminish the importance of proximity—global audiences may feel connected to distant events—but without the depth that traditional journalism provides, leading to superficial engagement and potential misinformation.

In conclusion, the eruption of La Palma's volcano in 2021 exemplifies how contemporary news stories are shaped by age-old journalistic concepts, which continue to define newsworthiness. Nonetheless, the rapid spread of information via modern technological platforms has posed challenges to these principles, necessitating careful journalistic practices to balance immediacy with accuracy and depth. As news consumption evolves, so must the critical application of these foundational concepts to ensure storytelling remains meaningful and ethically responsible.

References

• Hansen, K., & Wessels, A. (2023). The role of human interest in crisis reporting: coverage of natural disasters. Journal of Media Studies, 45(2), 112-127.
• López, M., García, R., & Sanchez, P. (2022). Communicating natural disasters in the digital age: The case of La Palma 2021 eruption. International Journal of Communication, 16, 3509-3527.
• McGregor, K. (2021). The impact of immediacy on journalistic standards: Challenges and opportunities. Media & Communication, 9(4), 241-251.