And they way the news is selling is the way the viewers want it. Nice news doesn't get viewers.
I believe this, but I do find it unfortunate, because this is exactly why the only 'news' program I watch is The Daily Show. Because I really don't need to fill my brain with how many car accidents and homicides and OMG New Disease that Hasn't Been Fully Researched But it Might Kill Us All Will YOU Be Next News at Eleven.
Which brings me to the next subject, which is the news media 'warping' the news. I kindof agree with both of you here, because I do think that a lot of the news is warped, I'm just not sure how much of it is intentional.
Take protests, for example. You can have thousands of well-dressed, well-behaved people, and the camera will zoom in on the one guy wearing grungy clothes trying to throw things at the cops. Intentionally warping things to make protestors look bad, or going for the angle that might get more viewers?
Or stranger kidnappings. Most of the time, when children are abducted, it's by a parent or someone else they know. But the media focuses a lot on stranger kidnappings, to the point where parents are overly fearful of that when there's a slim statistical chance of it happening. (same thing applies to rape cases, with the 'someone you know vs. stranger' chances)
How much of it is intentional for whatever reason, and how much is just automatically going after Man Bites Dog stories so much that eventually men biting dogs seems to be the norm?
no subject
I believe this, but I do find it unfortunate, because this is exactly why the only 'news' program I watch is The Daily Show. Because I really don't need to fill my brain with how many car accidents and homicides and OMG New Disease that Hasn't Been Fully Researched But it Might Kill Us All Will YOU Be Next News at Eleven.
Which brings me to the next subject, which is the news media 'warping' the news. I kindof agree with both of you here, because I do think that a lot of the news is warped, I'm just not sure how much of it is intentional.
Take protests, for example. You can have thousands of well-dressed, well-behaved people, and the camera will zoom in on the one guy wearing grungy clothes trying to throw things at the cops. Intentionally warping things to make protestors look bad, or going for the angle that might get more viewers?
Or stranger kidnappings. Most of the time, when children are abducted, it's by a parent or someone else they know. But the media focuses a lot on stranger kidnappings, to the point where parents are overly fearful of that when there's a slim statistical chance of it happening. (same thing applies to rape cases, with the 'someone you know vs. stranger' chances)
How much of it is intentional for whatever reason, and how much is just automatically going after Man Bites Dog stories so much that eventually men biting dogs seems to be the norm?