Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Zero-Based News
Part Seven
This news series continues by detailing the types of formats utilized in journalism.
News content provided in audio formats is an important way for Americans to listen to news content.
Broadcast radio stations and networks remain a major source of news content for some people. Much of this news content is consumed by listeners while in their motor vehicles. In many cases, news content focuses on information of an immediate interest to listeners. This could include such topics as weather projections, traffic conditions, and headlines of major news content. Broadcast radio is provided free of charge to listeners with access to a radio or similar receiving equipment.
Satellite radio stations have become a method for news content to be presented in ways that may include language and subjects not permitted through broadcast radio stations and networks regulated by governmental rules. People generally have to pay to listen to satellite radio stations.
Podcasts are a more recent format utilized to provide news content. Subjects of almost all types are explored through podcasts. News content is usually more of a subjective nature on podcasts. Unlike broadcast radio stations and networks as well as satellite radio stations – both formats that generally utilize schedules to disseminate news content – podcasts are generally available for listening on demand. Podcasts may or may not be available free of charge to listeners.
News content provided in video formats is also a critical way that people in the United States view news content. Broadcast television stations and networks are a major source of news content for Americans. Broadcast television is provided free of charge to viewers with access to over-the-air television sets or similar receiving equipment.
Cable television networks provide a wide range of news content. Unlike broadcast television stations and networks, news content provided through cable television networks may include language and subjects not permitted because of governmental regulations controlling content on broadcast television. People generally have to pay to view cable television networks.
Streaming news content has been a recent format option for viewers seeking news content. As with cable television networks, news content provided through streaming is generally not controlled through governmental regulations. Streaming news content may or may not be available free of charge to viewers.
In addition to news content being provided through newsletters in a print format, newsletters are also sent by email. Many newsletters distributed through email are targeted to specific groups with similar interests in specific types of news content.
Beyond email newsletters, four other digital news content formats have become more important in the past thirty years.
Blogging sites provide news content presented typically by individual people. The news content may be objective, but usually has some subjectivity representing the viewpoints of the producers of the news content.
Some news content is distributed through digital formats that are only available on websites and smartphone applications. News content may be objective, subjective, or a combination of both depending on the individual digital-only format site.
Some news content is distributed first through digital formats on websites and smartphone applications, but is then also available through audio, print, and/or video formats. News content may be objective, subjective, or a combination of both depending on the individual digital-first format site.
Beyond the digital-only formats and digital-first formats, other news content is distributed through digital formats on websites and smartphone applications either at the same time or after first being distributed through other audio, print, and/or video formats. News content may be objective, subjective, or a combination of both depending on the individual digital format site.
Depending on the digital news content format, news content may be available free of charge, may have some news content available free of charge with other news content available for a fee behind a paywall, or may have all of its news content only available for a fee behind a paywall.
Social media networks have become major sources of news content, especially for younger generations in the United States. News content provided through social media networks may be objective, subjective, or a combination of both, depending on the specific social media network. Much of the news content is provided by users of social media with limited or no oversight by the social media networks. News content is typically provided free of charge through social media networks.
The next news column in this series will focus on the types of ownership structures utilized in journalism.
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
Contact Richard McDonough at
© 2025 Richard McDonough
