Negative media messaging and formulaic reporting

The images from last weekend’s earthquake in Nepal are everywhere — internet, network television, social media, cable, blogs, etc. These sources use these images of devastation to draw you in and it actually warps your mind a little. Do you recall that old refrain about the evening news (when everyone watched the evening news) “if it bleeds, it leads” Well, whether it’s the national evening news or any media piece the concept is still sound — shock viewers with something and they are more likely to take an interest and stick around.

So why is this technique so effective? Take a look:

1. Social science research shows that individuals are three times more likely to remember a negative image than a positive one. Yes, morbid curiosity is a thing.
2. Subconsciously this makes you think these terrible things are more likely to happen than they really are. This gets you to listen to the next portion of the report where the reporter, expert, person on the street will tell you what you can do about it.
3. This, in turn, makes your worried, scared, fearful, etc. which gets you to return to the website and the cycle continues.

So you are drawn in with negative images and then a formulaic delivery of partial facts are stitched together to make it seem as if it is actually something important. Don’t’ believe me? Take a look at what the folks at the Onion News Network put together.

Now it’s our turn — here’s what you can do to combat the effects of the negative imagery and formulaic messaging:

• Once you recognize this pattern you will see it is everywhere. Hopefully, you will become a more aware media consumer and recognize when you are being manipulated.
• Don’t just read/watch/listen to your media — be actively engaged. What questions do you have about an issue and are they being answered?
• Don’t take things for granted — be critical of what you are taking in and look for the author’s spin.
• Try to find the topic being covered on another media source and see what their take is.
• Talk to someone else about the issue and see what the think. Just because you may see the issue differently doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hear their perspective.

Here at Security Kitty that’s how we do it. We read something, we summarize the key points, we see what CNN, FOX, Al Jazeera has to say about it and then share our analysis with you.