The Psychology of The News - Managing The Impact
In the last post we discussed why the news is negative and polarising through attractive stories. How does this impact us? And what can we do about it?
Previously, we discussed the importance, and primary drive, or increased viewership. However, over recent years viewership of mainstream news media has been declining rapidly. Television, newspapers and radio have all taken a huge hit to viewership numbers, losing them to the new media – social media platforms, podcasts and YouTube. Some podcast shows now have more listeners than any mainstream media. How can they react to this? How can they save their business? Some try to diversify into the new media. While others create ever increasing negative, divisive, narrative based news stories, often with clickbait-type headlines and catchphrases. There is an odd contradiction in our society today where things feel more polarised than ever, politically. The left-wing seem to hate the right-wing and vice versa, as both have opposing policies. However, when you talk to people with different political views, they almost always present kindly, with understanding and politeness. Even politicians on either side, when details are involved, have much overlap in their views and goals. Yet, we are led to believe this isn’t the case, sewing anger and distrust towards others.
There are many good examples of this over the last few years – Trump vs Hilary Clinton, “anti-vaxxers” vs the vaccinated, brexiteer vs remainer. All these stories were a polarised, us vs them, narrative. Those who supported remaining, and watched remaining supporting news media, often thought that brexiteers were stupid, racist, uneducated and xenophobic. Brexiteers, who watched Brexit supporting news media, often thought remainers were pompous, unpatriotic, and disliked western values. However, most people on either side of the debate were none of the above. Most people wanted the same goals and outcomes, but believed in different ways to get there. Most people on both sides were kind, caring, nice people. Yet, as viewers we were polarised because it made a more enticing, exciting, negative and attractive story, which made us consume the media regularly.
How can we free ourselves from the polarising, depressing news? Firstly, acknowledging that wherever you get your news, they have a stake in increased viewership, and this may sway how stories are told. Secondly, get your news from a wide variety of sources, including sources with different biases. Watch them all with scepticism. By doing so, you avoid falling into a “good versus evil” way of viewing the world. Or, you could consume minimum news media. If the news makes you feel depressed, angry, unhappy, then don’t watch it for a week, or a month, notice if you feel any different and if it actually mattered that you weren’t keeping up with the news. Lastly, talk to others and know that most people are mostly likely similar to you. Similar in the wants, desires, fears, hopes etc. Not similar exactly, in a way that removes your uniqueness. But similar in a way that they don’t want unnecessary suffering in the world and they do want people to have access to everything they need – they may just have a different opinion of how we get there, and that is okay.