Digital Tools for News

Digital Tools for News
I often use Google Alerts to access news online. I think Google Alerts is a convenient and reliable tool that allows me to stay on top of all news items that are important to me. All I need to do is create an alert based on the news item I want to stay informed about. For instance, I have created an alert on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and I receive an email notification every time there is a new result about the conflict. The news items can be from sources such as CNN, Reuters, The Washington Post, and other news outlets that I consider credible. The use of Google Alerts differs from accessing news in traditional ways such as radio and TV in that I get instantaneous information. As Esser and Neubeger (2019) reveal, digitization has allowed people prompt access to news events around the world. Also, Google Alerts provides me with information on a particular news item from a wealth of news outlets through a simple email notification. The variety allows me to compare the facts from different outlets without necessarily seeking out specific news organizations.
Accuracy Credibility of Online News
I have used Twitter and Facebook to access news in the past. In the beginning, I would only access the news while I was on the platform for other reasons, such as posting something or replying to a comment on a previous post. However, I quickly realized that accessing news from social media platforms was interesting because, aside from the news, I would also see the comments and perspectives shared by other users in the comment section. The access to different perspectives and users' comments became my main reason for accessing news on social media platforms. As Roberts (2019) notes, some social media platforms, such as Twitter, give users an opportunity to share and discuss news. They provide users with perspectives that are different from ma...