The printing press in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries made political news available for the first time to a wide general audience. But it was the invention of the cheap, mass-circulation newspaper in the nineteenth century and of radio and television a century later that made political news a continuous, pervasive part of daily life. Today, 24-hour news networks, satellite, cable and wire transmissions, and the Internet provide an almost limitless supply of political news.
With so many options, the public is often confused about what political news to trust. Proponents of civic journalism see a moral duty to help people make sense of the politics around them and to be informed about their choices in order to participate effectively in democratic society. Others, however, think that political news has gone off the rails from objective reporting and instead is largely motivated by partisanship, celebrity status, money and a basic human need to belong to a tribe or community.
The public is flooded with political news, but it can be difficult to find a balance that will keep people informed and engaged. Keeping up with the constant flow of political news can be overwhelming, and readers may be tempted to filter out the “noise” or only look at the parts of a story that confirm their beliefs. When writing about political issues, give the facts first, and then add comment or opinion only as needed to illuminate them. For example, if an elected official makes an incendiary comment online, frame it by showing what he or she believes rather than simply reporting the outraged reaction.
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