Why do journalists predominately report sad horrible news ?

Question

Is it because we live in a sad horrible world ?

Answer 1

For the media, Bad news is 'Good news' because bad news sells.

Answer 2

Journalists report news that we choose to watch, listen to, read or consume.

If you see two headlines, "PARIS HILTON ASSAULTED IN JAIL" and "LOCAL WOMAN COMPLETES TWO YEARS IN THE PEACE CORPS", you are most likely to read the story behind the first headline.

The news we consume is voted on with our subscriptions or by our tuning in to the news. We know more about Paris Hilton, Anna Nicole Smith and Scooter Libby than we do about anything 'upbeat'. The fact of the matter is, there are upbeat stories reported on, but most people don't pay attention. The local news routinely airs 'human interest' stories at the end of newscasts about how some pro athlete helped kids go to camp or how a firefighter saved someone's life. We tend to forget these minutes after we hear them, and certainly don't discuss them.

When you go to the grocery store, and you see headlines as they are on the Enquirer, Star, and Globe, u nderstand that this is what people buy. If we "bought" more positive and upbeat news, it would be on the magazine racks.

Answer 3

What 's horrible about sad news?
If George Bush were to drop dead tomorrow, shouldn't the American people know so we can lower the flag and express our sorrow?
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Lots of news, but what is sad or not depends on the listener.
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People who want to hear only good news are people who want to live in a fantasy world.

Answer 4

It's all about the 'ratings' baby!

Are you expecting jounalists to report all the 'sunny' and 'good news' pieces so we can shield ourselves from our own reality?

I'm sure it works in Disneyland, NeverNeverLand Ranch, and, um...what's the other place?

Fox News.

But this is the 'real world'. Not some fictional planet in a galaxy, far, far, away. :0)

Answer 5

Sad horrible news is money making machine.