Some people think that free online news is good, while others say that online news is unreliable. This essay will discuss both views. While many are concerned about the quality and truthfulness, I favor digital news fully.
On the one hand, people enjoy cost effectiveness, speed, and the accessibility coming from online media. Cost effectiveness is achieved as people do not need to pay for subscriptions. As online news is updated immediately, people commuting from outside the business district can read the news anytime on mobile devices, making it easier to stay informed. From this point of view, news from traditional media is relatively outdated. On the reliability issue, readers can cross-check across various platform to validate content integrity. Traditional media could be owned by a media conglomerate, which may lead to biased reporting. For example, Metro TV group, a mainstream media in Indonesia, is owned by a political figure, accused of spreading fake news during 2024 presidential campaign.
On the other hand, many are concerned about the quality and truthfulness of the information. The possibility of misinformation or fake news exists as unverified sources can spread false information and unlike newspapers, many websites don’t fact-check. Algorithms may feed users only what they agree with because people prioritize sensationalism over accuracy. For example, during 2014 presidential elections in Indonesia, some fake stories go viral. which mislead voters and manipulate public opinion. Lack of law enforcement makes things even worse, which generally happens in developing countries.
In conclusion, while people enjoy cost effectiveness, speed, and the accessibility of online media, many are concerned about the quality and truthfulness of the data. I fully favor digital news as the primary news source.