The illusion of breaking news in Lebanon

  • Date: 22-Jan-2022
  • Source: Zawya
  • Sector:Economy
  • Country:Lebanon
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The illusion of breaking news in Lebanon

Lebanon is bombarded with news on a daily basis. And, with the recent changes in how we consume information, this flow resembles a whirlwind in the middle of a desert. Each news item seems to be of the utmost importance. All Lebanese screens and apps are news-driven. The consumption of news is continuous and dominates daily life. From forwarded unknown audios to sarcastic analysis on TikTok or clips from a talk show — all of these items are shared as though they signal yet another cataclysmic change. However, when the dust settles, this news is nothing but a single drop of water in the Mediterranean Sea. There is an inverse correlation between the volume of news and the real change that is taking place in the country. Even in horrific terror attacks, the fundamentals stay the same simply because the criminals go unpunished or even come out stronger. I often repeat that I am amazed by the number and length of talk shows that repeat the same analysis on local TV channels. This has been going on for decades. It resembles a Turkish drama series where the hero is left in the exact same situation at the end of every