According to the Pew Research Center, several resources, including comScore TV Essentials and FactTank, found that the three major cable news networks (CNN, Fox News, & MSNBC), Network News, and Local News organizations all saw declines in the average audience viewership during the time slot of the evening news in 2017. The average audience for the daytime slots remained relatively stable. More “Americans are relying less on television for their news”. The Pew analysis revealed that Local News experienced the greatest decline but still retains the largest audience of the three news sectors. The portion of “Americans who often rely on local TV for their news fell 9 percentage points, from 46% to 37%. Those who rely on network TV news declined from 30% to 26%”. Cable TV suffered less instability; there were “28% less viewers in 2017, compared with 31% in 2016”.
The FCC reported that, in general, the traditional media (defined as newspapers and TV) has provided broad content (news, sports, stocks, etc.) in their papers and programming, whereas online viewers “can go to specialized, free sites that are typically better than what their local paper offers —except that those sites don’t expose them, even minimally, to the news of their communities”. On the positive side, Pew found that online users expressed they like that their news is more accessible and interactive. On the negative, a Reuter’s survey indicated that there is lowered trust in the accuracy of the news. The FCC also reported that greater polarization has occurred due to the “proliferation of media choices”. Pew documented that “the more people know about politics, the more likely they are to choose media that is consumed by people like themselves”. But, Pew also found that 78% of those who follow the news less often said they try to avoid the news (unless something important happens). The executive director for professional practice of the American Psychological Association, Katherine C. Nordal, PhD, stated that the modern political climate instills a constant stress from which it is hard for Americans to escape.
In contrast to the anxiety of this current climate, there is optimism in the message contained in, “Heaven Heals (By Understanding Abraham’s Covenant).” It is a message that speaks of God’s love for all His children. One of the most important lessons of the Bible is the covenant God made with Abraham, which was a covenant, specifically, with Sarah and Abraham. There is a parallel in Sarah and Abraham’s eternal love story because it relates to the love stories of all couples, who make the same covenant with God. Although it is impossible to escape sorrow, disappointment, and loss in life, the book demonstrates that understanding Sarah and Abraham’s story, and realizing the meaning of their covenant with God, provides the perspective that life’s design is to overcome obstacles. And, no one is alone in his/her struggles. Others have wrestled with challenges, grown from trials, achieved joy and successes and, ultimately, accomplished greatness. Heaven can heal aches and pains, transforming and empowering individuals, as they understand the significance of God’s covenant with Sarah and Abraham, and how it relates to them.
The book is an inspirational journey that reveals the glorious eternal rewards in store for all God’s children and teaches the reader how to strengthen and improve his or her own lasting relationships with loved ones. It is also a unique opportunity to glance inside at the purpose of the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. These magnificent structures are a source of curiosity, beauty, and inspiration around the world. The message of this book is intended to bring people together, which (not surprisingly) is welcomed news in today’s distracted and divided culture.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/08/21/5-facts-about-the-state-of-the-news-media-in-2017/
https://transition.fcc.gov/osp/inc-report/INoC-20-News-Consumption.pdf
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3026082
http://www.journalism.org/2018/09/10/news-use-across-social-media-platforms-2018/
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/07/political_stress_when_is_enough_enough.html