One Issue I have been seeing recently is YouTube channels, streamers, and TikTok personalities that think that they are analogous with traditional news outlets. And this is NOT a partisan issue; it happens on both sides of the aisle. They will point to traditional media and say “Ah ha! See, they are hypocrites/dishonest/one-sided!”. But the issue is they ALWAYS do it by looking at existing media

The issue is these alternative news sources ALMOST never do any actual reporting. They look at other sources of information and put their spin on it, but they would have no idea how to do any real reporting. It is easy sit in your bedroom office and look at the front page of CNN, NSMBC, or FOX and find inconsistencies, but that is not reporting. that is reacting. Very few of these channels are actually going out and doing interviews, finding sources, interacting to the police.

So, why does this matter? It creates a ‘gap’ in our available information. there are proably PLENTLY of stories that go unreported because the MSM (Mainstream Media) did not report on it, so these news reaction channels dont report on it either. It is making a blindspot in what ever gets to national attention.

And since I want to be fair, there ARE some channels that do actual reporting. Timcast for one does use Twitter/X to sometimes find news/reports and makes a story from it, which is a good way to do reporting without having to travel. A lot of podcasters bring on subject matter exports who discuss news related topics. the 1st Amendment auditors go out and file FOIA (freedom of information act) request to get bodycam and police reports. It is not perfect, but it is a start

So, what can be done? I think the main thing is YouTube News Channels need to work on finding NEW stories to report, not just react. with the advent of social media it is not too hard to do, but it is an important art that I feel is disappearing. Hopefully some reaction channels can become reporting channels before it is too late.