Why the news is more important than ever, Matthew Sullivan

Why the news is more

important than ever

If we’ve learnt one thing this year, it’s that people need news. MATTHEW SULLIVANtakes a look at the power of the pen when it comes to the often life and death situation of COVID-19.

FOR MANY PEOPLE, KEEPING up to date with the news is a chore reserved for journalists and baby boomers who religiously watch the nightly news on television every evening. In theory, the average person can go through life without paying much attention to the news and current affairs or caring much about how the government of the day is performing. But the COVID-19 pandemic has changed that significantly, at least for the foreseeable future.

This is simply because the numbers of new COVID-19 cases each day and the government’s decisions have a direct impact on the daily lives of Australians. Depending on the level of restrictions imposed, the activities people can do and the places they can go can be extremely limited.

NOW, MORE THAN EVER, PEOPLE ARE GLUED TO THE NEWS AND DRAWN TO THE FLASH OF THE NEWS ALERT NOTIFICATION ON THEIR PHONE THAT HOLDS THE KEY TO THEIR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT.

A recent study by the University of Canberra found that during the COVID-19 pandemic,

the number of heavy news consumers increased by 14 per cent to 70 per cent, with Australians seeking reliable and trustworthy information during the pandemic. Digital media is the driving force behind the spike, but very few Australians are willing to actually pay for journalism, making this a frustrating period for news organisations struggling to convert eyeballs into dollars. The ABC, News Corp and Australian Associated Press (AAP) have cut hundreds of jobs, while 10 Daily and BuzzFeed News were forced to shut their newsrooms altogether.

COVID-19 is the biggest news story of a generation and the stakes are higher than ever. People are relying on the news for accurate information to inform their actions and keep them and their families safe.

THE NEWS HAS BECOME A MATTER

OF LIFE AND DEATH.

Speculation on potential lockdowns and the number of cases has become the chosen water cooler discussion topic of this year — if people were allowed to work at the office, that is. At the start of 2020, if you had been transported in time to the middle of this year and heard the daily refrain of ‘how many cases are there today?’, you could be excused for not having a clue what people are talking about. The rhythm of the day is punctuated by the 11am press conferences from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who calmly announce the daily number of new COVID-19 cases and call on people to follow the rules and stay positive. These politicians and public servants must be commended for addressing the public every day, no matter how harrowing the latest set of numbers are.

Australians hang on every word to see if they are affected in any way. These are some thoughts that might be running through their heads: Can I send my kids to school? Do I need to go into the office to work or am I working from home? When will my income support from the government be cut off? Can I visit my elderly relative? When will I be able to travel overseas to see my loved ones or simply go on holiday? Can I

meet up with friends at a pub or restaurant? Can I go to the beach? Can I go to a live sporting match?

Sydneysiders and people from NSW were on edge for several weeks when the numbers began to creep upwards again. The possibility of a second lockdown had many people watching the news with anxious trepidation.

This period has also made people realise the degree of power that state and federal governments have over Australians. We live in a healthy democracy (arguably), but governments have controlled our daily lives, for the better, more than I can remember over the past six months. It’s a good thing that generally, Australians are pretty good at following rules. Perhaps the pandemic has taught people that since governments hold so much influence over us, it is important to be across their policies so we can hold them to account.

A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF YOUNG AUSTRALIANS HAS BECOME ENGAGED WITH THE NEWS.

Exchanges at press conferences between politicians, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Daniel Andrews, and journalists, have transcended mainstream media and made their way onto TikTok, where cleverly edited montages bring some humour to what is a stressful time for many. If you haven’t seen the lip-synced parodies of Scott Morrison’s interaction with ABC political editor Andrew Probyn at a press conference, do yourself a favour and watch them.

It must be acknowledged that many people are experiencing coronavirus news fatigue due to the oversaturation of COVID-19 related stories in the media, especially in the relentless 24hour news cycle. This type of news can feel like a constant barrage of negative information, which is emotionally draining and can take its toll on the psyche. It is important that the media keeps the public informed about the latest case numbers and the easing or tightening of restrictions, without fearmongering or using the increased appetite for news as an excuse to clickbait readers to boost digital audiences.

Personally, I am constantly on the lookout for non-COVID-19 ‘good news’ stories to lighten the mood. One good news story I read was about a dog being reunited with its Sydney family after being stranded in the US for five months. Another heart-warming story was that of a woman who reconnected with her childhood classmate after he saved her from a schoolyard bully 50 years ago. But these positive stories are few and far between.

As we move forward, it is crucial that Australians find a balance between keeping up to date with vital information and taking a step back from the news when necessary to keep their mental health in check.

It will be intriguing to see if Australians continue consuming news at a rapid rate once the pandemic is over, because if this period of time has proved anything, it’s that the news helps keep citizens informed.

Pictures: Lisseth Portillo