News coverage is the information in newspapers, magazines and on television about current events. It is often a mixture of news and opinions, but it can also be opinion-only. The goal is to provide readers with an understanding of the world around them and how it relates to their own lives. The media can influence public opinion and public policy, and it can also encourage or discourage altruistic acts.
If you want to influence what gets covered in the media, write letters to the editor. Be sure to include your name, daytime phone number and fax number, since the reporter may want to verify your identity before printing. Include as many facts as possible, but be concise and civil. Journalists and readers respond poorly to angry letters.
It is important to understand that what a journalist considers newsworthy can change from day to day. A good suggestion might not make the cut if it does not immediately seem to fit the overall story line, and journalists must be realistic about the amount of time they have available.
For example, if a new disaster strikes, the news may focus on how people are being affected and on coping strategies rather than the scientific evidence that is needed to support the need for disaster relief. This construction of polarisation and conflict can work to legitimise organised sceptic groups, who are able to present their own perspective of the issue as factual.
