Jennifer Caldejon disagrees with the common charge that young people are apathetic ““ the first-year undeclared student simply believes that other parts of students’ lives often take priority.
“I think people care if they have time to care, with studying for midterms and everything,” she said.
Keeping up with current events can take a backseat to the daily shuffle of class, studying and extracurriculars, some students said.
But the media has begun to change, and students are increasingly turning to outlets that present information in formats tailored to their needs. Many students said sources such as blogs and Web sites make news easier to access and relate to.
“I like that (blogs) are a combination of news and analysis,” said Kyle Kleckner, a fourth-year political science student and president of Bruin Democrats.
He added that blogs and television shows such as the Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart can help provide depth and alternative perspectives to more traditional news.
Some college newspapers have begun to integrate and successfully utilize blogs. the Daily Californian at UC Berkeley has a blog called The Clog that offers opinion and a humorous spin on the news, and Editor in Chief Stephen Chen said he believes the format helps present information in a fresh way.
“It’s another way to get information out to students. … Having a blog where you get shorter excerpts of information, I think people digest it better,” he said.
Readers can post comments to The Clog, and Chen said he believes people like being able to communicate that way.
“It gives our audience another way to interact with us,” he said.
Convenience is also important for students trying to stay informed, Caldejon said.
Normally, she tunes in to the evening news at the end of the day, but since Caldejon came to college, her habits have changed.
“It’s hard to watch anything because a lot of us don’t have TVs,” she said. “This is like the longest I’ve gone without watching TV.”
Now, Caldejon usually just catches the headlines when she logs into her e-mail account.
Kleckner also said he believes convenience plays a role in how students choose to stay informed.
Internet outlets are often easier for students to use than more traditional news sources, he said.
“Newspapers cost 75 cents, you have to buy them every day, they’re not easy to find,” he said. “(Web sites) are not only free, but they’re very accessible.”
Across the country, print newspaper readership has declined dramatically in recent years with the rise of Web sites and blogs.
Arvli Ward, UCLA’s student media director, said that universities have not been excluded from that trend.
Until 1995, the Daily Bruin printed 20,000 copies per day, Ward said, though he added there were many papers left on newsstands. Today, The Bruin’s print circulation is down to 10,000.
Part of the reason for the change is that many people now opt to read online rather than pick up a print edition, which is reflective of the national trend, Ward said.
Nearly 13,000 students read the Daily Bruin online each day, including many off campus.
Ward said he understands why people would prefer to read online.
“It appears readers are more engaged online,” he said. “It’s a lot more convenient. Online puts a lot more resources at your fingertips whenever you’re looking for information.”
He added that readers can quickly and easily search for more information, or access multiple sources of information.
But Kleckner noted that it is ultimately up to students to pursue different sources of information if they want it.
“There are varying degrees of how informed folks are,” he said.
Trish Hubbard, a third-year anthropology student, said she does not feel the need to seek out news.
“I watch the news ““ whichever’s on,” she said. “It’s easier, I don’t have to do anything. I’m indifferent.”