In the 24 hours after Michael Jackson’s death, search engine, Google was inundated with hits to its website by internet users searching for information on the pop star. Likewise, Twitter, which like Google was also overwhelmed by the millions of users trying to access it, so much so that the site actually crashed. Upon hearing these facts it got me thinking about how the way we consume our news, when it comes to major world events, has changed so rapidly over a short space of time.

During the first Gulf War in 1991 there was no internet, and cable television had not yet reached Australian shores [for those of us living there at the time]. As a news junkie I recall the thrill of being able to switch channels between our four free-to-air stations who were televising ‘special’ round the clock broadcasts from CNN, BBC and Sky News. 

Then, in 1997 when Princess Diana died the internet had already been in existence for a few years and most of the national papers had online versions which were being up dated regularly. And yes, by this time we did have cable television in Australia.

Moving on to the events of September 11, and by this point in time we were watching the news live as world events unfolded so that we could feel as if we were there ourselves. Many of us can remember the horrific scenes of watching the second plane hit the World Trade Centre. It was also at the same time when the concept of citizen journalism was introduced whereby the news we consumed was generated by bystanders thanks to the technology of mobile phones.

As you can see, the way, and even the instantaneous nature in which we consume our news has changed and manifested itself into many shapes and sizes. Today, in 2009, we are faced with an abundance of choice as to how we choose to receive our news: Twitter, RSS feeds, text messaging services and the like. So, by the time another milestone or big event takes place, it does make me wonder what advances will have taken place given the constantly changing media landscape.