How to Build a Culture by A Trevena

Author:A Trevena
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Maythorne Press
Published: 2022-01-31T00:00:00+00:00

Who is expected to make adjustments and integrate themselves?

Who is still striving for acceptance?

How does public opinion differ from the law?

What behaviour will result in exclusion from society?

Is there a chance of redemption?

NEWS AND THE SPREAD OF INFORMATION

We’ve already looked at the informal spread of information and gossip, so you’ll already have a good idea of the different communication channels in your world; be that oral communication, written, digital, or even telepathic.

Now, let’s look at how information is formally spread to your people.

Formal news and information may well use the same lines as gossip, but remember that this might cause misinformation to spread, or create a blockage in communication. If formal news is simply passed from one mouth to another, people may well misinterpret, forget details, or make mistakes, corrupting the information from its original form. People might add their own slants and prejudices, mixing their own opinions with facts, or turning news to propaganda, whether intentionally or not.

It’s an unreliable way to distribute formal information and news, full of flaws and inadequacies. But that isn’t to say that any other method is flawless or less prone to prejudice and exploitation.

Perhaps there are written publications. Maybe everyone can read them, but maybe not. They might be read out by heralds or town criers, religious leaders or civil leaders, people who are expected, and trusted, to read the source material as it’s written.

Maybe news reports are played on large screens mounted in public squares. Maybe they’re beamed into every home, or broadcast to every device. Perhaps watching them is compulsory.

Is there a single news source, or several competing ones? Perhaps they have different focuses, preoccupations, and audiences. Maybe they have different allegiances, biases, funding sources. Are they trustworthy, or do they simply regurgitate propaganda without question?

Is the news subject to regulation and inspection? Perhaps there is an official ombudsman, or regular audits to ensure impartiality. Maybe the media have a self-regulatory code of conduct.

The news may be controlled, entirely, by the government. Independent news sources might be outlawed, with equipment seized and reporters jailed. Perhaps the news is controlled by the main religion, or by an educational institution, or by a magical society. Perhaps it’s controlled by the military, or by the wealthy.

It might be freely owned by the people, open to public scrutiny, or collectively organised. Maybe it’s entirely impartial, free from sensationalism, and run not for profit. Perhaps it’s the pride of your nation: a completely free, trustworthy news source, unsullied and uninfluenced.

Do people look forward to hearing the news? When the herald’s horn is blown, do they gather round eagerly, keen to hear the bulletin? Or is it a source of anxiety and trepidation? Perhaps it leans towards optimism, perhaps it prefers a pessimistic outlook.

Consider how present the news is in people’s lives. Are they bombarded by it, required to hear it, enthralled by it? Perhaps they avoid it, or try to. Just how easy is it to avoid?

And consider the part news plays in your story. Perhaps it broadcasts your character’s face, urging people to find them.

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