Negative news overload - Triple J Hack

Description

https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/dark-few-weeks-here-are-some-good-news-stories/10929668

The news is always pretty grim, but these past few weeks seem particularly heavy - from sexual abuse in the catholic church being in the spotlight, to the second fatal Boeing 737 crash in six months, to last week's unthinkably tragic terror attack on Muslims in Christchurch.

Sometimes, the burden of gut-wrenching news coverage is so bad, it can make us forget about the good in the world.

While tragedies take up front pages and occupy our attention, it's inevitable that quietly profound things happening all around us slip by unnoticed.

As Caroline Fisher, media and communications expert at the University of Canberra, told us on Hackyesterday, it comes down to a foundational - albeit crude - saying in journalism: "If it bleeds, it leads."

Today we want to shed more light on the groundbreaking stories rather than the heartbreaking ones. Not because we want to naively sugarcoat a dark time, but because these stories get far less attention than they deserve.

 
 

Subject

 

 
 
Period21 Mar 2019

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleNegative News overload - Triple J Hack
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outletTriple J - ABC - Hack
    Media typeRadio
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date21/03/19
    DescriptionThe news is always pretty grim, but these past few weeks seem particularly heavy - from sexual abuse in the catholic church being in the spotlight, to the second fatal Boeing 737 crash in six months, to last week's unthinkably tragic terror attack on Muslims in Christchurch.

    Sometimes, the burden of gut-wrenching news coverage is so bad, it can make us forget about the good in the world.

    While tragedies take up front pages and occupy our attention, it's inevitable that quietly profound things happening all around us slip by unnoticed.

    As Caroline Fisher, media and communications expert at the University of Canberra, told us on Hack yesterday, it comes down to a foundational - albeit crude - saying in journalism: "If it bleeds, it leads."

    Today we want to shed more light on the groundbreaking stories rather than the heartbreaking ones. Not because we want to naively sugarcoat a dark time, but because these stories get far less attention than they deserve.
    Producer/AuthorTim Tilley
    PersonsCaroline FISHER