Information Overload?

In today's information age a person can end up overwhelmed with local, national, and international news. Between the array of newspapers, web articles, and television and radio newscasts, a person who regularly tunes into these multiple media forms is susceptible to media madness.
It is easy to obtain any news information desired. Want to know what is going in the local area? Read one of the local area newspapers, log on to the corresponding web page, or watch the local news channel. For those who desire a broader perspective of news events, national and international newspapers, television newscasts, and websites exist.
What happens when the ease of finding information turns into information overload?
We need to remember that we are in control of what we read, watch, and listen to. Even if we are in an environment with constant television, internet, and newspapers, we choose what we pay attention to.
As for the other extreme, the uniformed person consciously makes a choice not to tune in. An uninformed person may think that they are uniformed because they do not have enough time to catch up on current events. However, with the various channels of media available there is no excuse for ignorance.
It is effortless to become informed by choosing a media channel that compliments your daily routine. People who commute or spend a considerable amount of time in the car can tune into national public radio for the latest national news. People who work on a computer at some point during the day can easily go to a news website in order to catch up.
According to the L.A. Times, Americans are watching more T.V. than ever, averaging more than 142 hours a month! With so many hours spent in front of the television, the opportunity to become informed is only a click away.
With each different media form: print, online, and broadcast, the consumer receives information focused in different manners. For example, broadcast covers the major stories in a short length of time. Print media, such as newspapers and magazines, offers a wider variety of topics than a broadcast, but with less extensive subject coverage than an online media source. Online sources offer more articles to cross reference information with as well as interactive capabilities that the other channels do not offer.
Staying informed without overdoing it depends on choice and balance. A person needs to decide how much information they want to know, what type of news they seek (national, regional, local) and then match their needs with a media channel that fits their lifestyle. With so many options, we have the power to mold the media to our needs!
Dolph C. Simons Jr., owner and publisher of Journal-World, confirmed this idea of reader control when he said, "We want to stay abreast of new developments and be able to deliver news and advertising, as well as other information, however a reader may desire."