News coverage is information about current events distributed to audiences through a variety of channels, including word of mouth, printing and postal systems, radio, television and electronic communication. The way in which news is presented can have a significant impact on the level of public concern about certain issues and can influence one’s perception of problems and solutions.
A common goal for many organizations is to secure national media coverage, but local coverage can have a similar effect and be just as valuable. Getting on the front page of local publications and broadcasting outlets is a great way to build trust with your audience, which can lead to long-term business success.
Local media is also a great vehicle for explaining the “why” behind some of your coverage, which helps to dispel any misconceptions or negative audience assumptions that may have been caused by your coverage. You can do this in a number of ways, such as adding a pull-out box alongside a story or including a note above or within on on-air story, in a social post or on your newsletter blurb.
While it is difficult to deny the importance of the human cost of the conflict in Gaza, much of the news coverage has been crisis-oriented and has focused on Hamas as an enemy of Israel rather than the individual Palestinian casualties suffered during the conflict. This is partly due to the fact that US news broadcasting has been influenced by the 24-7 News cycle created by CNN, which was one of the first to introduce this model to American culture and which has led to sensationalizing stories to entice viewers.