Editors play a decisive role in determining what news should be broadcast on television and printed in newspapers. These decisions are affected by a variety of factors like market economics, political affiliations and profitability.
Most of our news channels and newspapers are owned by private organizations. Their chief concern is making money so only news that has the potential to grab eyeballs is given coverage. Since bad news grabs more attention, it gives more importance. Sometimes news items that are important for the public are given less or no coverage because they don’t appeal to advertisers. While I agree with the argument that good news should be given more coverage, I don’t expect to see this anytime soon.
The preference of the readers or viewers has an impact on the kind of news being reported. A lot of us get drawn to bad news such as crime, violence, death and destruction more quickly than good news. This is probably because such items inspire shock and awe. It is therefore understandable why bad news gives more importance than good news. Unfortunately, excessive coverage of bad news creates a sense of insecurity in the society. This does not serve the public interests, but it might protect the interests of advertisers. For example, when too many incidents of robbery are reported, it is quite normal for the sale of CCTV cameras and burglar alarms to go through the roof. It is, therefore, evident that bad news serves commercial interests better than good news.
To conclude, editors are influenced by a variety of factors and always choose news items that serve them and their advertisers’ interests. They might change this stance if the readers and viewers turn a blind eye to such content; however, I don’t see this happening anytime soon because the public too relish such content.
Editors play a decisive role in determining what
news
should be broadcast on television and printed in newspapers. These decisions are
affected
by a variety of factors like market economics, political affiliations and profitability.
Most of our
news
channels and newspapers are
owned
by private organizations. Their chief concern is making money
so
only
news
that has the potential to grab eyeballs is
given
coverage
. Since
bad
news
grabs more attention, it gives more importance.
Sometimes
news
items that are
important
for the public are
given
less or no
coverage
because
they don’t appeal to advertisers. While I
agree
with the argument that
good
news
should be
given
more
coverage
, I don’t
expect
to
see
this anytime
soon
.
The preference of the readers or viewers has an impact on the kind of
news
being reported
.
A lot of
us
get
drawn to
bad
news
such as crime, violence, death and destruction more
quickly
than
good
news
. This is
probably
because
such items inspire shock and awe. It is
therefore
understandable why
bad
news
gives more importance than
good
news
. Unfortunately, excessive
coverage
of
bad
news
creates a sense of insecurity in the society. This does not serve the public
interests
,
but
it might protect the
interests
of advertisers.
For example
, when too
many
incidents of robbery
are reported
, it is quite normal for the sale of CCTV cameras and burglar alarms to go through the roof. It is,
therefore
, evident that
bad
news
serves commercial
interests
better than
good
news.
To conclude
, editors
are influenced
by a variety of factors and always choose
news
items that serve them and their advertisers’
interests
. They might
change
this stance if the readers and viewers turn a blind eye to such content;
however
, I don’t
see
this happening anytime
soon
because
the public
too relish
such content.