is 24 hour news a bad thing?

[wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe]

Before cable/satalite tv was invented, we had the news at 1, 6, and 9/10, dependent on your channel of choice. And if something major happened in the world, like the invasion of a country for instance, we had news flashes, but that was it. If you wanted to know what was happening, you had to wait for the next news bulletin.

And then sky news was launched, and we suddenly had 24 hour news at our fingertips, so we could almost literally watch the end of the world live on tv if it so happened. In fact on september 11, people watched in horror as a plane flew into the second of the twin towers, and continued to watch as both buildings collapsed.

And because the media now feel that they have to provide 24 hour updates, there?s almost this need to make the news. If there are no developments in a case, then that?s just not good enough, so let?s get an expert in to discuss what might be happening, or someone who?s been there and can tell of there experiences.

So is 24 hour news really such a good thing?

discuss ...

In don't think 24 hour news is the sole culprit, but yes, I think it has probably done more harm than good. All those endless "updates" when there is nothing new to say, and in the case of Sky in particular, the broadcasting of rumour as fact (remeber all those "facts" about the Charles de Menezes shooting?).

and as for those "experts". every pressure group with a good looking rent-a-gob gets coverage these days, disproportionatley to their size/support (eg the "fuel lobby", that ex policeman who says he represents all policemen etc)

it winds me right up.

Totally agree with the opinion that when there is no news, they create news instead, or anticipate news and make a programme out of pure speculation. And yes, I think 24 hour news is one reason for that. But I also think we're living increasingly in a "tabloid world" - instant gratification please and then on to the next thing - and the next and the next. We consume news in the same way that we are supposed to consume merchandise, celebraties, Big Brother etc etc.

Yes - 24 hour news has led to a complete degradation in the reporting of actual meaningful news. It is shite and very annoying. I never watch the news anymore - would rather read a paper or BBC news online.

Agree with Janite about the tabloidisation of modern life.

I hate it. I think 24 hour news is making people feel less safe than they used to. Many people for example, believe that crime is rising, because there is CONSTANT reporting about crime; however, crime figures are in fact, lowering.

I think the standard of news reporting on the 24 hour channels is abysmal. Channel 4 news at 7 is quite good. Sky News, News 24 and particularly breakfast news on BBC is appalling. It's as though it's aimed solely at very, very stupid people, whereas I think the BBC at least are supposed to be a public service station and should be "educating" the masses, not pandering to them.

(And for the record; no, I'm not a graduate, or particularly "educated" myself.)

yes, I've noticed a distinct lowering of journalistic standards on BBC news.

I love the BBC, think it deserves the license fee, but its news coverage really should be better: less sensational, more international and well, I'm afraid to say, it should probably be more boring. BBC news standards should be higher than those of other news organisations precisely because of the license fee.

There has also been a fragmentation - with the internet or sky news you can choose what you want to watch.

So instead of getting an overview of what the Beeb or C4 producers think is the main news of the day, those obsessed with paedophiles, terrorists, bird flu etc, can have a constant, if superficial, stream of the news that facinates them. Not exactly healthy IMHO.

People I know, and on here, tend to ignore "boring" financial and political news in favour of stories that tug at the heartstrings.

I think quality definitely has suffered as a result of 24-hour news bulletins - a lot of it is just 'filler'. I particularly hate the wheeling in of "experts" when they have no new developments on a story. I suppose the plus side is that you can catch up on the news whenever you want - instead of having to wait until 9pm or 10pm.

The thing that really bugs me though is the split screen format that the news has now - BBCnews24 does it. So you have the main picture, with sound. Then a box in the corner with some other aspect of the story they are covering. Then the ticker tape thing running along the bottom to tell you what other stories are in the news - or (even worse) texted-in comments from the general public. And then sometimes another box pops up to tell you what is coming next.

It's as if they don't think we have the concentration span to pay attention to just one, main story - so they bombard us with stuff in the hope of keeping our interest. It drives me mad.

God, don't get me started on the texted-in comments.

why do I care what some nutter in Basingstoke thinks? If I wanted that I woukldn't be watching the news, I'd be on mumsnet (ahem)

Being told what a producers selection of ordinary people think winds me up too. If I want uninformed chatter I will talk to DH, my mates or mumsnetters! Definitely not from a tv screen!

We got rid of our TV licence last year and currently only watch DVDs. We will have a TV again in the future but when we got rid of it, we found all we were watching was News 24. I am much happier just listening to radio news. It is much too much and admitedly a sad way to spend ones life (talking about me and DH here)

What a waste of time being glued to the Tv for an hour only to see the same 'news' repeated 4 times.