Is it possible to thrive without exploiting fear?

by Jack Humphrey on Nov 14

It’s an honest question.  I look at news channels like CNN and I wonder if there will ever be a model for news that focuses on the positive.

You might be so engrossed in what the news media feeds us on a daily basis that you’ve forgotten that there is just as much positive news as there is negative.  It is a matter of what you focus on.

It seems that the news media is forever in a loop.  It’s like the producers are saying “The election is over, let’s find out what could go wrong next.”  Or “people are losing their homes and jobs, let’s focus on who created that problem and ignore the people who are figuring out creative ways to deal with the problems facing us.”

We all know fear sells.  It also keeps ratings up.

But what if someone just decided to try a new segment on cable or network news that focuses on active solutions to problems that are working.  Or on individuals doing great things to help the people losing their jobs and homes?

Since you can’t walk down the street these days without hearing someone complaining about all the bad news, doesn’t it stand to reason that a news organization could make a killing having at least a segment where all they focus on is the widely available good news stories around the world?  Good news does exist.

Some Bloggers Get It

It seems like individuals are better suited to focusing on the good rather than all bad news.  Since we don’t have shareholders who are too conservative to let us play with their money by trying new things, we can launch a blog that is essentially “happy” in focus.  Of course there are plenty of bloggers who figure if it works for CNN, they sure aren’t going to break the mold.

The argument I’ve heard all my life when I bring up this topic is that “you can’t live in a fairytale land.  You have to know what’s going on!”

To which I always reply, “Exactly my point!”

Getting nothing but the scary, bad, fear-inducing news is a (dark) fairlytale land too.  Its not the whole picture of our world.

Some news bloggers have won a lot of converts who are burnt out on being eternally depressed and who want balance in the information that is forced into their heads and hearts on a daily basis.   I just can’t bring myself to believe that human beings consciously desire nothing but bad news.

Have you been infected?

If you run a news’style blog, take a look at your latest posts.  Is there any good news?  Do you actually believe there isn’t any good news to report?  Or have you just been lulled into selectively reporting only the bad things that are going on?

I believe the jury is out on whether or not people are able to appreciate balanced reporting.  (Or balanced blogging!)  Not balance in the way CNN defines it.  But balance in the type of news covered.  Good and bad together.

The whole “hope thing” Obama supporters are rejoicing in right now should be proof enough that people are hungry for reporting that covers the good news as well as the necessary bad news.

Update: Why TV News Sucks So Badly

Tagged as: bad news, good news, negativity, news blogs, news reporting

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  • http://www.VideoProductionTips.com Lorraine Grula

    The problem with news organizations reporting “good news” is that they tend to concentrate on silly stuff, like water skiing squirrels or beer drinking dogs.

    This is the best they can do to find something “positive” to report on? Sadly, I’m afraid it often is.

    I worked for many years as a TV journalist. (which is more of an oxymoron than I’d like.)

    GOOD JOURNALISM, in my opinion, actually DOES report on solutions. A quality report explains the myriad of causes to a problem, then presents a myriad of possible solutions to said problem. In other words, quality journalism is in-depth and discusses all aspects of an issue.

    There is not much quality journalism out there, which is sad indeed. You can’t cover much, positive or negative, in 1:30. Lots of TV news people are so conditioned to be negative, they think being positive makes them sound like wimps. Really.

    Lorraine Grulas last blog post..Quality lighting for your video production does not have to be hard.

  • http://www.jackhumphrey.com/ Jack Humphrey

    I figured I’d draw you out Lorraine! Although I didn’t think of it when I was writing this, I remembered your “love” of the media and wondered if you’d chime in.

    I agree 100% with you on those points. I know this is probably a complaint or peeve of mine and yours (and probably millions of others) that won’t be given serious attention by anyone who can do anything about it on a corporate level. But sometimes you just gotta see if anyone out there feels the same.

  • http://affiliatemarketingmaze.com Sunshine

    Hope, not fear, won the day in this election and I believe people are truly craving more of this. Good news should have more of a prominent place throughout all media.

  • http://www.jackhumphrey.com/ Jack Humphrey

    See? Sunshine! That’s what I’m talking about! :)

  • http://yourcatcareguide.com/wordpress Darlene Norris

    I get so fed up watching “news” shows where all people do is scream at each other or just focus on the problems. I think the news media is talking us into a recession. Show me people who are coming up with solutions! There ARE people out there thinking outside the box, but for some reason, this isn’t considered newsworthy. Good article, Jack.

    Darlene Norriss last blog post..Cat Allergies All Itchy and Scratchy

  • http://foliovision.com Alec

    Hello Jack and Lorraine,

    You are complaining more about human nature here than the media.

    Bad news sells. Or rather people would prefer to read about the tragedies overtaking others.

    The Bush presidency and the McCain would-be presidency were not tragedies which were happening to other people.

    It was happening to Americans themselves.

    Suddenly bad news was not nearly so entertaining.

    Alecs last blog post..Typepad to WordPress switch – 2008 guide

  • http://www.directoryofkilleen.com Directory of Killeen

    After having spent 15 years in broadcast media myself, I feel that they have become so jaded and caught up in themselves as “makers” of stories rather than reporters of the news. We can only hope that the new media will change some of that and in this election cycle it certainly played a part both good and bad.

    Personally, I believe there is a place for a positive news focus and that people are wanting it more now than ever! Yes bad news is abundant and always will be but in the middle of it all there is always good to be found in it…we just need to look.

  • http://www.VideoProductionTips.com Lorraine Grula

    Gosh yes, being the media “lover” I am, this is definitely one of my big beefs.

    I am such a big believer in QUALITY JOURNALISM. When most of the news media was operating by the motto of “If It Bleeds, It Leads,” I preferred the mantra of “Dare to be Dull.” You know, facts and junk like that without sensationalism.

    OK, I admit to being a nerd. Sometimes, it feels a bit lonely in Fact-Land.

    Personally, I feel like QUALITY JOURNALISM is vital for a thriving democracy and the fact that corporate news is sorely lacking is a detriment to our country.

    However, I would also like to point out that often, the news media simply reports what they are told. So if the people they interview are expressing fear and panic, that is what they report. For the past 8 years, we have had political leadership exploiting fear, so naturally, the news media reports what they say and are seen as fear mongers themselves.

    I really think people are sick and tired of that crap as witness in the latest election. I am glad about that.

    But of course, the news media loves to call EVERYTHING a crisis, whether it truly deserves that label or not. They love to exploit fear (and other strong emotions) because that makes the news less boring and therefore gets people to watch. My “Dare to be Dull” philosophy makes people switch channels. Unless they are nerds like me!

    Lorraine Grulas last blog post..Quality lighting for your video production does not have to be hard.

  • http://www.jackhumphrey.com/ Jack Humphrey

    @Darlene – yeah I can’t watch the pundits anymore. 2 years of election coverage was enough. Need a break from the shouting. We sure could use a Edward R Murrow or a Cronkite right about now. I think the louder they proclaim “fair and balanced” the more they have news anchors who are themselves nothing more than pundits.

    @Killeen – I wonder if it is human nature or not sometimes. Every day it gets dark. But 1/2 of the day is light too. And I see a lot more people basking in daylight a lot more than at night. (And I stay up late – so this is true science speaking!) :)

  • http://www.VideoProductionTips.com Lorraine Grula

    Wow, a fun discussion on my favorite topic!

    I can attest to the fact that many people working in the news media do indeed get caught up in themselves as the story. Their get heads so big you wonder if they will fit thru the doorway! They honestly think their opinion is what matters.

    I tell them to go back to journalism 101, but then they look at me funny and curse.

    Fear and other strong emotions get people to watch. Plain and simple. “OMG, the sky is falling, film at 11!

    All that screaming drives me nuts too. I swear it’s like watching kindergartners on the playground. “I’m important,!” “No me!” “No me!” That’s when I hit the remote and switch over to something more intellectual, like the Simpsons.

    If you watch old-time news shows, you see none of this garbage. I believe about .0002% of the population watched back then so they borrowed some tactics from professional wrestling, which had much better ratings!

    If you want high quality Tv news, watch Amy Goodman at DemocracyNow.org. she is boring as hell and I love her!

    Lorraine Grulas last blog post..Quality lighting for your video production does not have to be hard.

  • http://www.jackhumphrey.com/ Jack Humphrey

    Maybe this is why Colbert and the Daily Show are so popular. I get my news, but I get to laugh too!

  • http://blog.rehabcentersla.com/ Lindsay

    The focus on fear is disheartening. I especially find the “6 common household items that may kill your child – News at 11″ announcement annoying. To me those practicing such methods have lost credibility. They have cried wolf too often.

  • http://www.jackhumphrey.com/ Jack Humphrey

    I kind of think those are funny in retrospect. It’s a child-like tactic to try and make them more important than they are. Sad thing is child-like tactics work on so many child-like people, lol.

    It’s the news’ version of a squeeze page. You have to subscribe to find out what’s inside. And usually the items are: 1. poison 2. broken window 3. butcher knife 4. clothes dryer and other things you knew already.

    Sometimes I think we’re just a bunch of monkeys throwing our own poop at each other.

  • http://HomeSearchTV.com SAD BUT TRUE

    Jack

    Have you ever heard the news story that an accident happened by a lemonade stand? But if there is an accident on the side of the road more people slow down for that than a cold drink from a kid. And the odds are there will be a second accident between the “rubberneckers”. Its sad

    **I’ve never seen it in writing but the RULE IS: Stop for kids selling lemonade***

    I wish the major networks would AT LEAST remove the “coming up” lead ins, they must waist 6 min of air time telling me the weather and sports are coming at the end of the program. I havent timed it yet but I will.

    They can report the FEAR story but they definitely have the room for a positive story.

    Colbert is great!
    Tim

  • http://www.VideoProductionTips.com Lorraine Grula

    You guys are cracking me up! I’d love to take these comments into an afternoon newsroom meeting. We used to joke and threaten to fill a newscast with tons of teases that said, “Will ordinary cotton socks kill you? Stay tuned for information that will shock you!” and then in the very last few seconds of the show have the anchor casually look at the camera and say, “No. What the hell makes you think anything that stupid?” No one was brave enough to follow thru with that threat however.

    Tim, you could not be more correct about rubbernecks.

    Early in my career, (eons ago when video cameras weighed 50 lbs.) I ran around to every murder, accident, fire, storm and random calamity scene in a 300 mile radius.
    I had never heard the word rubberneck until then and I was dumbfounded at how many people like to gawk. It does not matter if it is 3 a.m. and sleeting, people will pour out of their houses in their jammies and curlers if the commotion is big enough.

    They often act like it is a party scene. People will get in front of the camera and wave to their mom even as the police are hauling a dead body out of the woods.

    Irritated the bejoozies out of me.

    TV news executives only think about the production value of the show. In other words, how fancy and flashy everything looks. When they want to “improve” the show, they always turn to fancier sets, fancier graphics, new music that’s more dramatic, new hair-dos for the anchors. Younger anchors with bigger boobs. All that superficial, show-biz crap. They NEVER EVER discuss raising the quality of journalism. Journalism never even gets mentioned as something we should be doing. In fact, I sat in a station-wide meeting once and listened to the guy who was the corporate head of the entire news division (company owned about 15 TV stations and a bunch of magazines) and he said, “Journalism doesn’t work.” Seriously. He chuckled at the notion of spending time doing real journalism. Ridiculed the station’s reputation back in the early 80′s when we put corrupt politicians in jail and won Peabody awards.
    Guess which old-geezer, been-there-forever employee stood up and debated that issue with him? And wouldn’t shut up? Kept debating. Told him he was wrong. Go ahead and guess.

    TV news sucks. Restricting corporate ownership is the best solution. Bringing back the Fairness Doctrine won’t really cut it. That’s the solution you hear bantered about but that is not enough. You have got to go back to local ownership and not letting 3-4 companies control the whole frigging media.

    In case you did not know, the Fairness Doctrine was an FCC regulation that had been in place since the advent of TV and was done away with during Ronald Reagan’s term. The F.D. made all media outlets give equal time to liberal and conservative views or they could not keep their federal license. You had to present verifiable data on fairness every year at license renewal time to the FCC. In addition to doing away with the F.D., they also loosened the restrictions on ownership and one company could gobble up as many media outlets as they wanted.

    The media conglomerates of today fight against bringing back the F.D. but many people who hate the media want to make it law again. But I do not think you can regulate your way into quality TV news. That would only give you a million Alan Colmes clones.

    I think you have to have owners who give a darn about their local communities and journalism. But local TV news does not make enough money to make that feasible anymore. Back before cable TV, local stations could turn a good profit, but not today. They barely squeak by and lots of them lose money.

    Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are some of the best journalists in America in addition to being absolutely brilliant comedians. I LOVE them and agree that many people watch them because they are the only “news” you can watch with out wanting to upchuck.

    Now that I am done with War and Peace, I’ll get back to work.

    Lorraine Grulas last blog post..Video Production

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  • http://www.jackhumphrey.com/ Jack Humphrey

    Lorraine,

    Could you elaborate on your points above? I find your writing to be far too brief on these topics to understand where you are coming from. :)

  • http://www.VideoProductionTips.com Lorraine Grula

    Sorry to confuse you Jack. I will try and do better.
    And they say only lawyers have the audacity to call a 500 page report a “brief.”

    Lorraine Grulas last blog post..Is it Possible for TV News to Thrive Without Exploiting Fear?

  • Jason

    As a Republican with a family full of Democrats, it is very evident that ALL of us experience this negativity from the news. I used to watch Stewart to get a laugh, but started to build some frustration because he started missing obvious targets on one side, and I felt he had thrown the balanced news/comedy out of the window. Anyway, that is just a little thought in my head…What I really wanted to say was I love this part of your post….

    It seems that the news media is forever in a loop. It’s like the producers are saying “The election is over, let’s find out what could go wrong next.” Or “people are losing their homes and jobs, let’s focus on who created that problem and ignore the people who are figuring out creative ways to deal with the problems facing us.”

    Thanks for the post and all of your great information.

  • http://www.selcobw.com lynne@builders merchants

    I really truly believe that people much prefer to hear good news, who wouldn’t? Its just that the media seem to wish to put more bad news out there so thats what people get to see.
    .-= lynne@builders merchants´s last blog ..EUROCOMPACT RADIATORS =-.

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