The amount of information one can access at once has increased exponentially since the creation of newer news mediums, from newspapers to broadcast news. At HAHS, teachers and students stay informed about unfolding events in their community and beyond through the mediums they use to get information. The medium an individual or a group uses can reflect the changes in media consumption and demographics.
In the US, there is a consistent trend in how people get the news. According to Pew Research, digital media has been the most popular way to obtain news, with 56% of people using it as their primary source in 2025. Television is next, with 32% of users, radio with 11%, and print with 7%. Comparatively, a survey of 100 HAHS students found that 72% prefer video content for information, and 14% primarily use TV broadcasts. Moreover, 7% of people use online articles, another 7% use other formats, and no students use podcasts to obtain news. The shifts largely reflect the changes in demographics and in news accessibility due to new technology outperforming older formats.
Social Studies teacher Mr. McBreen explains that he primarily uses a combination of analysis videos and podcasts to stay informed with the news, but prefers video. When watching videos on news topics, he does not look for anything in particular because he finds that news is surprising and varies from day to day. His only requirement is that the content presents views from different sides of an argument or situation. He finds that video news can often be more informative than other mediums because it can present events as they are happening, such as in a live recording. Even as a Social Studies teacher, Mr. McBreen does not believe that he is more informed than the average person. Although he does not stay up to date on the news regularly, conversations with students often help keep him informed about the latest developments in the news.
There is no single correct way to stay informed, as mediums are designed with different audiences in mind. Casual audiences may gravitate toward shorter, concise content, while those who value detailed information may prefer longer content. Also, while shorter-form content is a more recent development, it has the potential to help more people stay informed. The most important thing, though, is that everyone takes full advantage of their options to be mindful of the action around them.
For more information, visit https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/news-platform-fact-sheet/ and https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pi9d8Cja4S1KQfqwfV7m5v_oPtlzcwbKt21IWV57LYM/edit?usp=sharing.
