Is news reporting becoming too sensationalised?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342088)
Rockingham, Australia
February 20, 2023 6:40am CST
The photo doesn't really belong but the discussion is about Australia so I've used a photo of iconic Aussie icons. 
An Australian TV presenter, Leigh Sales, was recently interviewed and spoke on a number of subjects. You can read the interview here if you feel so inclined: Leigh Sales on hosting Australian Story, why we need to rethink the nature of news, and the sudden death of a 'dear mate' at 7.30 - ABC News
The part that resonated with me was that she believes the traditional model of news reporting is contributing to the decline in the mental health of many, due, to some degree, to the sensationalism of news stories.
She gives the example of a helicopter crashing. In years gone by, you’d hear about it once or twice but now with social media and round-the- clock news, the same thing is forced on your consciousness time and time again. She believes so much repetition leads the brain to start to think that helicopters are very dangerous indeed. And I remember seeing time and time again quite horrific footage of boat people, black deaths, bushfire disaster victims, etc.
And this I also found a bit mind-boggling: In 2021, 3,747 Australians died of catastrophic falls. In the same period, 1,122 died of covid. I don’t recall hearing one report of a death by a catastrophic fall, but I heard a lot about covid deaths. I found it staggering that so many could die from falls when here I was thinking what a lot of deaths we were having from covid!
Something to think about, isn’t it?
An Australian TV presenter, Leigh Sales, was recently interviewed and spoke on a number of subjects. You can read the interview here if you feel so inclined: Leigh Sales on hosting Australian Story, why we need to rethink the nature of news, and the sudden death of a 'dear mate' at 7.30 - ABC News
The part that resonated with me was that she believes the traditional model of news reporting is contributing to the decline in the mental health of many, due, to some degree, to the sensationalism of news stories.
She gives the example of a helicopter crashing. In years gone by, you’d hear about it once or twice but now with social media and round-the- clock news, the same thing is forced on your consciousness time and time again. She believes so much repetition leads the brain to start to think that helicopters are very dangerous indeed. And I remember seeing time and time again quite horrific footage of boat people, black deaths, bushfire disaster victims, etc.
And this I also found a bit mind-boggling: In 2021, 3,747 Australians died of catastrophic falls. In the same period, 1,122 died of covid. I don’t recall hearing one report of a death by a catastrophic fall, but I heard a lot about covid deaths. I found it staggering that so many could die from falls when here I was thinking what a lot of deaths we were having from covid!
Something to think about, isn’t it?23 people like this
18 responses
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
20 Feb 23
The media report only what they consider that is a "catastrophic piece of news". Covid was immediately described as "pandemic", they scared people, we had to wear a mask not to breath germs... how many die of passive smoke every year? Do they tell us to wear a mask where we see people smoking?
8 people like this
@snowy22315 (182175)
• United States
20 Feb 23
I am not sure about too sensational, but it sure is too depressing. For every dark story they report they should give a piece of good news to go along with it. It might seem pollyannish, but with the constant barrage o negativity, I don't blame those who want to give up watching the news.
5 people like this
@snowy22315 (182175)
• United States
25 Feb 23
@dgobucks226 If you remember Andy Rooney, he did a bit on that once ththisat was funny. He wrote a story that flight 222 arrived from Phoenix theeris afternoon. It was on time..one of the passengers remarked he didn't like the fake milk that was served with the coffee..Ha, just to show things going smoothly is not too exciting. However, our world today needs more of that. I think a good news network would be very popular.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (35733)
•
25 Feb 23
I agree with you there! I guess sadly, negativity sells more papers and draws more attention than good news. People are just drawn to a tragic story.
2 people like this
@allknowing (137773)
• India
20 Feb 23
We have a tv anchor here who keeps repeating news atleast twenty times during her session She disgusts me.
3 people like this
@allknowing (137773)
• India
21 Feb 23
@JudyEv Compared to other Anchors she over dooes it. Then we have another speciment that does this Usa for use, enuffa for enough, Taka for take, maka for make the list is endless. I have reported but no use she still continues with this nonsense.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Feb 23
@allknowing That would be incredibly annoying. I saw 'gonna' (going to) in a doctor's office on a billboard the other day. And 'should of, could of' instead of should have, could have' etc
2 people like this
@rebelann (112966)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Feb 23
Exactly. I have to wonder how anyone can make up so much news as to qualify for an all day news channel ..... errr, all day and night that is. I have friends who only watch news channels and boy do they get things completely mixed up sometimes.
Right now it's all about those horrific earthquakes and yeah, it's horrific, but just how much can anyone say about an earthquake after the first hour of reporting it?
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (108126)
• Marion, Ohio
20 Feb 23
I agree. They pick certain things. The ones that will get ratings no matter how many times it is mentioned
4 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (108126)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Feb 23
@JudyEv I think it needs to go back to proper reporting
2 people like this
@Treborika (17853)
• Mombasa, Kenya
21 Feb 23
I think the experience is the same all over the world
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Feb 23
I think that major coverage of disastrous events (Turkey earthquake, for example) is a necessary thing. News is important and I don't want to be fed pablum about big events. BUT, there was a train wreck in Ohio, some very poisonous stuff was released into the air. My daughter, reading some questionable news sources, says animals are dying due to poison in the air and water. Maybe true, maybe not. People were told to evacuate initially, but are back in their homes. Air Quality authorities, the air is safe. It seems there is a lack of complete coverage here in this case.
4 people like this
@shaggin (72234)
• United States
20 Feb 23
I definitely do think it can cause hysteria and depression etc. I stopped watching the news years ago because it would get me so depressed and there was nothing I could do to help the people in those situations so it was just bad for my mental health.
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90464)
• Arvada, Colorado
20 Feb 23
Yes and so much is also fake news Judy.
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90464)
• Arvada, Colorado
21 Feb 23
@JudyEv Yes Judy such a world..well we will have to use our brains whats left of them
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181721)
• United States
20 Feb 23
Deaths by falls certainly aren't reported; and I'm gobsmacked that the figure is so high in your country.
3 people like this
@BearArtistLady (6036)
• United States
20 Feb 23
I've gotten to the point where I don't watch the news. I can't handle all the horrible news about all the catastrophes not only locally, country wide, but also worldwide too. You hear about all the shootings, stabbings, and murders that you become paranoid and don't even want to leave your home. I wonder how much of the disasters are embroidered upon to make them more sensational to the public. It goes through my mind the line from one of the songs I used to sing with when I was driving along in the car (boy am I dating myself...just cut me in half and count my rings to find out how old I am! 
"Lord I could use a little good news today."
OH!!! I love the kangaroo board meeting!
"Lord I could use a little good news today."
OH!!! I love the kangaroo board meeting!3 people like this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Feb 23
@Treborika I think you are right. It's all about profits.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (20041)
• United States
21 Feb 23
I agree. I read an article a few days ago about Fox News (a news cable station) about how they didn't care about telling the truth. All they care about is ratings.
2 people like this
@Yadah04 (3363)
• Philippines
21 Feb 23
The first few month of the pandemic made me paranoid; I always hear on the news about deaths and how deadly it was. Those times made me really anxious and I figured it was already affecting my mental health. Thanks to Netflix, I was able to "divert" my focus and made me less anxious - though still careful on being infected.
So yes, I agree how repeated news could affect our mental health.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14692)
• Hong Kong
20 Feb 23
It's the media's tactic to draw an audience's attention.
2 people like this
@Treborika (17853)
• Mombasa, Kenya
21 Feb 23
I didn't have any idea why they were doing that. Even in my country it was the same thing.
1 person likes this
