A news outlet is a publication that provides information about current events. These publications can range from newspapers and magazines to television news broadcasts and online news websites. They usually have dedicated staff members who gather news and report it to the public. A news outlet may be owned by a corporation or independently operated. A large number of Americans rely on social media platforms to get their news.
In the United States, newspapers have a long history. During the 19th century, technological advancements like the telegraph and quicker printing presses revolutionized American journalism. Newspapers became powerhouses of advocacy, muckraking and sensationalism as well as serious and objective reporting. In the 1920s, radio took a larger role in American news media. Later, TV and the Internet further revolutionized the industry.
During a news broadcast, a news analyst (also known as a news anchor) examines and interprets information from various sources. These sources include reports from on-the-ground journalists (news correspondents) and videotaped or live transmissions from the field. The anchor then presents the information in a short segment of the program. Some television channels also host special documentary films of longer durations, allowing them to explore the subject or issue in more depth than the usual news segments.
While the agenda-setting potential of the media has diminished in the age of the Internet, many traditional media outlets still have the ability to influence public perception of issues and problems. For example, in 1991, a private citizen’s camcorder footage of Los Angeles police officers beating Rodney King was broadcast on local television and went viral, igniting national discussion about police brutality.