Testing the Importance of Immediacy in Emotional Threats
September 30th, 2009
Many would describe the modern media as at least somewhat sensationalist, with scores of threats being reported on a relatively constant basis. The way in which such reports can be dangerous, suggests a new study conducted at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The study examined participant responses to a range of reports and media materials containing emotionally charged threats about travel in different areas, finding that rather than the true degree of danger, participants reacted most strongly to whatever they had most recently absorbed. The research may help contribute to making news reports more balanced.
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Comments
News reports can make or break the impression about a new place or thing most often for most people… As the entire story cannot and will not be shown, the certain parts that are actually shown create a big prejudice in the minds of the viewers and although this is good in most of the cases, it can be negative at times, too.
Breaking the news is always tough and care needs to be taken especially in case of sensational news. There have been many ‘shock deaths’ too. The media should be educated about this and also trained to frame their articles in the right manner.
tell me abt it man!! everywhere u go someone is talking abt swine flu or terrorist attacks. Noone wants to board an airplane for fear of catching swine flu. I think this overblown reaction to the whole thing is because of the media’s insinuations.
Ha! News outlets for the most part do not care to make their reports more balance, only more sensational to get the most viewers. To say that this research may help to change their strategy is but another way of viewing the world through rose colored glasses. Balanced does not equate to viewers.
Isnt that the exact reason why we want to get home to catch the late news?? The sensationalism in today’s journalism is what we like to hear and see. It only changes when u become the news.
The media has taken on the role of a hypochondriac. Its sad but it does affect us especially when we hear things again and again
reminds me of the game “fire on the mountain, run run run!!”
I am a media person and I do agree there is a lot more hype than required in some cases. I also view things from another perspective – people dont recognise the seriousness of the effects surrounding an issue unless the effects are spelt out. That adds to the hype sometimes.
Since when do opinions count as facts? There is a fine line that has been crossed many years ago and it’s all about sensationalism NOW. When MCD struck in the UK I think beef went off the shelf the very next day in the U.S. Now if that isnt a case of media hype what is?
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