Meaning: The quote "Television news is like a lightning flash. It makes a loud noise, lights up everything around it, leaves everything else in darkness and then is suddenly gone" by Hodding Carter, a journalist, provides a vivid analogy for the nature of television news. This quote encapsulates the fleeting and impactful nature of television news, highlighting its ability to command attention, influence public discourse, and then quickly fade into the background as new events unfold.

Television news has a powerful and immediate impact on its audience. When a breaking news story occurs, television networks have the ability to quickly disseminate information to a wide audience, often interrupting regular programming to deliver urgent updates. This disruption is akin to a lightning flash, which abruptly illuminates the surroundings and demands attention. The metaphor of a "loud noise" suggests the urgency and intensity with which television news captures the public's focus.

Furthermore, the quote emphasizes how television news has the capacity to overshadow other forms of media and communication. When a major news event dominates the airwaves, it can cast a shadow over other stories and issues that may be equally important but receive less attention. This aspect of television news is likened to leaving everything else in darkness, highlighting the selective nature of media coverage and the potential impact on public awareness and understanding.

The transient nature of television news is also a key aspect of the quote. As quickly as a lightning flash fades, so too does the immediate impact of a news story on television. With the constant flow of news cycles and the rapid turnover of stories, the focus of television news can shift abruptly, leaving previous events and issues behind. This ephemerality is a defining characteristic of television news, as new developments and stories continually emerge, capturing the audience's attention and relegating previous events to the background.

Hodding Carter's quote provides a thought-provoking perspective on the dynamics of television news and the role it plays in shaping public awareness and discourse. The analogy of a lightning flash effectively captures the intense, fleeting, and influential nature of television news, prompting reflection on the ways in which media consumption and coverage impact society.

In conclusion, Hodding Carter's quote serves as a poignant reminder of the transient and powerful nature of television news. By likening it to a lightning flash, Carter encapsulates the immediate impact, selective focus, and fleeting presence of television news in the public consciousness. This quote prompts us to consider the implications of the rapid dissemination and turnover of news stories in the digital age, as well as the influence of television news on shaping public discourse and awareness.