Jay Nogami Projects

Sensationalism Today

In the modern world, technology allows untold access to news. Any person with an Internet connection can check any one of thousands of news sites at any time. As a result of this, both traditional and new media companies make every attempt to increase their viewership. There is one way to increase traffic that has surpassed all others: sensationalism. It appears that the modern world has become obsessed with big. People look for the biggest, most important stories. The media has noticed this, and is taking advantage of it in a huge way. Sensationalism in the mass media supports the spread of false information, and distracts from issues truly important in the world.
Sensationalism is defined by the Merriam-Webster as “the use or effect of sensational subject matter,” with sensational further defined as “arousing or tending to arouse (as by lurid details) a quick, intense, and usually superficial interest, curiosity, or emotional reaction”(Merriam-Webster). In simpler terms, sensationalism attempts to create brief, superficial interest in a subject. When companies resort to sensational news, they look for not the most important stories, but the stories that will create the most interest immediately.
A perfect example of sensationalism comes from comparing two major news websites headlines about a March 17, 2011 Japanese aerial water dumping operation. Using identical images, The Huffington Post, perhaps the poster child of modern media successes, used a headline of “Desperation from Above: “Helicopters Try Dropping Sea Water On Nuclear Reactor To Avoid Full Meltdown.” BBC, long a pioneer in the media world, reported “Japan Steps up Cooling Operations” (Japan Probe). It is very clear that the Huffington Post used a sensational headline when reporting on this incident. The sensational headline imparts upon the readers a sense of urgency, and a sense of fear. While the Huffington Post is reporting truthfully, it is easy to see how out of proportion the headline was blown.
Perhaps the most prominent example of sensationalism in recent history was the H1N1 virus, or swine flu. When news of the “pandemic” first came out, there was nowhere that wasn’t reporting on the swine flu almost constantly. In the days following the news of the outbreak, CNN’s John Roberts was reported as asking “Is this the killer virus that we've all been fearing for decades? Is it just a threat? Is this 1976, where we had a small, contained outbreak, or is this 1918, where 20 million people died worldwide?" (NPR). Roberts presents a tone that tells listeners to prepare for the very worst. It is now evident that swine flu did not turn into a worldwide problem, and that it did not kill millions and millions of people. Yet every single American was in a huge frenzy when this news started trickling out. And they had good reason to be. According to a CBS news report, “swine flu stories took up a whopping 43 percent of airtime” in the week after the outbreak (Montopoli).Trying to fathom just how much of news reporting this is can be very difficult. This means that for every minute of programming about anything but the swine flu, nearly 45 seconds of reporting was about the swine flu. This is a modern example of taking a big news story, and making it bigger and bigger until it seems that it is the only important thing in the world.
Sensationalism not only occurs in reporting for the daily news, it also is found in reports on medical studies. According to a 2001 report by the UPF, there are “subtle incentives” that can result from sensationalising news reports on medical studies (Ransohoff et al). It stated that “sensationalism may prevent the public from being knowledgeable participants in policy discussions about scientific issues”(Ransohoff et al). The report goes on to talk about various reasons why sensationalism in this case is harmful. These sensational reports by news media “generate both false hopes and unwarranted fears”(Ransohoff et al). This means that just by sensationalising medical studies, media outlets often times influence public belieft. In creating a sensational headline or story, the media can essentially say whatever they believe is going to be the most viewed. This only further supports the Huffington Post’s example from earlier.
Often times however, sensationalism has greater effects than instilling false hopes or fears. A report by the European Sudanese Public Affairs Council outlines countless ways that sensationalism has hurt efforts for peace in Sudan (ESPAC). It took until 18 months after the dispute in Darful began for any British news media source to acknowledge that there were two sides to the conflict (ESPAC). That is an astounding thing to reflect upon. What has been marked as one of the greatest modern genocides has been marred by such sensationalising that most people worldwide were unaware that there were two sides fighting in the war. Without any news reports contrary, all were led to believe that it was a one sided fight, with nothing but merciless slayings.
However, this is just as true in American media reporting on the Darfur conflict. According to a 2004 article in the Village Voice, vven the esteemed New York Times was guilty of sensational reporting in regards to the conflict in Darfur:
The Washington Post and The New York Times have repeatedly characterized attacks by the Arab riders of the government-backed Janjaweed as a war against “black Africans.” The Associated Press has referred to the turmoil in the Darfur region as fighting between Arabs and “ethnic Africans.” Clinging to race as an explain-all theory might make for more readable stories, but it has a central flaw. Many of the Sudanese “Arabs” are as dark as the “ethnic Africans” they are at war with (Coates)
The New York Times, perhaps the United States best investigative newspaper, is guilty of extreme sensationalising. They take a conflict that “involves issues of religion, climate, and competition for land” and turn it into a flat out race war (Coates). A misrepresentation this large makes it abundantly clear just how great an effect on our media sensationalism has. Since race wars are more interesting, and more easily understandable, The New York Times does its best to misrepresent the conflict, as doing so helps increase their views.
It is quite obvious why so many news sources resort to sensationalist media: it sells. The United States is obsessed with the next big thing. Americans, and the rest of the world, want to know the biggest news stories. The world is bored easily, so news media is forced to ratchet up larger and larger headlines, to create more and more controversy. Checking a major newspaper any day, it is easy to see that the stories that will sell the most are put on front pages, not those that are most important. in a time when the United States is struggling to pass a bill that allows it to keep operating, the front page of every major newspaper is reporting about a royal wedding in England.
Since newspapers are for profit businesses in the United States, it is necessary for the media to conform to what it thinks its viewers want. However, at what sacrifice to journalistic integrity should newspaper sales or ratings shares come? It has reached a point where the Japanese government felt it necessary to ask foreign media to “be objective, not sensationalist” (O’Carroll). When the media has reached a point where they have to be specifically asked to be objective, there are great problems. Something needs to be done to stop the arms race that is occurring throughout the United States and world. Sensationalism is taking hold of the media, and if it is allowed to reign supreme, true, objective reporting may die with. In a democracy, if citizens are not informed, their action may not be the actions that are best for society. For if not, it surely means the destruction of the entire planet. Just ask the media.

Works Cited

ESPAC. "Espac.org - THE MEDIA AND DARFUR: SENSATIONALISM AND IRRESPONSIBILITY." ESPAC - Working for Peace in Sudan. 2005. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. .

Japan Probe. "Media Sensationalism: BBC vs. Huffington Post." Japan Probe. 18 Mar. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. .

Meeriam-Webster. "Sensationalism - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary." Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. Web. 27 Apr. 2011. .

Montopoli, Brian. "Did We Overreact To Swine Flu Threat? - CBS News." Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. 6 May 2009. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. .

NPR. "How Well Have Media Covered The Flu Outbreak? : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. 5 May 2009. Web. 24 Apr. 2011. .

O'Carroll, Sinead. "Japan Asks for Objective Reporting from Media - Leadership - Leadership | Ireland's Online Business and Management News Service - Businessandleadership.com." Business and Leadership News from Ireland's Leading Source. 7 Apr. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. .

Ransohoff, David F. "Sensationalism in the Media: When Scientists and Journalists May Be Complicit Collaborators." USF. Aug. 2001. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. .

Jay Nogami

April 8, 2011

LIBA 102

Russell

The Future of Newspapers

Throughout modern history, newspapers have been used to get the attention of the masses. Whether it was to learn about the previous day’s major news, or to entertain oneself on Sundays, nearly everyone in the United States has looked at a newspaper at one point or another. However, the internet has in many ways obsoleted the model of the newspaper. Some news corporations are taking action, moving towards a modern model for their newspapers. Others are learning the hard way by running huge losses. In today’s world of constant technological advances, print media has two choices: keep on the forefront of technology or watch themselves crumble due to their outdated model of news.

In recent years, there has been a significant move away from newspaper subscriptions. In the six month period ending on September 30, 2010 the Audit Bureau of Circulation estimated average daily circulation rates fell five percent (Associated Press). This is a steep drop, but in the previous reporting period, the decline was a steeper 8.7 percent. This comes with very little surprise. There is access to free news from hundreds of different sources online. Comcast.net, Yahoo.com, and even AOL.com offer similar content as newspapers online for free. Add this to the ease of accessing this information from your computer, and in many cases from anywhere that has an internet connection and it becomes easy to see why newspapers are suffering.

However, newspapers nationwide have realized this and are taking action. John F. Strum, president of the Newspaper Association of America said that these declines in circulation were expected (Associated Press). Of the top 25 circulated newspapers, all but two reported a decline in subscribers. The Wall Street Journal notably added to its circulation 1.8 percent. They offer a subscription service to their online newspaper, so this counts towards their totals. Most other newspapers in the country provide their content for free (Associated Press). They are a bright ray of hope in the demise of the newspaper.

The Wall Street Journal is not the only major newspaper to attempt to monetize their online news access service. On March 28, 2011, The New York Times launched an online pay wall that prevents those without subscriptions to their online services to 20 articles per month (Kramer). There new program has launched to generally mixed reviews. Wired.com contributor Felix Salmon is not in favor of their pay wall. Salmon said, “For the time being, though, I just can’t see how this move makes any kind of financial sense for the NYT. The upside is limited; the downside is that it ceases to be the paper of record for the world. Who would take that bet? (Salmon)” Salmon doesn’t believe that the monetized version of the website will bring in nearly enough revenue to make a difference for the New York Times. He further believes that this could end the New York Times online dominance as a new source (Salmon). However, in an effort to keep their website from being entirely cut off, outside links to articles will be excluded from these pay walls (Kramer). As this new pay service was rolled out only two weeks ago, it is too early to tell the success or failure of The New York Times.

The internet has greatly changed how American’s view their news. They can have up to the minute information about anywhere on Earth from the comfort of their own home. Whether newspapers will be able to survive the onslaught of online free sites such as The Huffington Post, or Yahoo News is still unknown. It is a time of great change for newspapers across the nation. Start paying attention now, because they may not be here tomorrow.

Works Cited

Kramer, Staci D. "New York Times Digital Subscriptions: The Unofficial FAQ Updated | PaidContent." The Economics of Digital Content | PaidContent. 28 Mar. 2011. Web. 06 Apr. 2011. .

Press, Associated. "Newspaper Circulation Down 5 Percent." Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 04 Apr. 2011. .

Salmon, Felix. "Commentary: The New York Times Paywall Is … Weird | Epicenter | Wired.com." Wired.com. 17 Mar. 2011. Web. 05 Apr. 2011. .

Jay Nogami

LIBA 102

March 11, 2011

Russel

When people are looking for information on the economy, generally speaking they turn to the media. The media is there to provide statistics about the health of the economy. A very pertinent indicator on the health of the economy is consumer confidence, as it is a measure of how the general public views the economy. At times however, the media may be causing my harm than good. In reporting on consumer confidence, the media oftentimes focuses on negative trends rather than providing a truthful report, and their dishonesty has a negative effect on consumer confidence.
Consumer confidence is defined as “the degree of optimism on the state of the economy that consumers are expressing through their activities of savings and spending.(McWhinney). This is measured by the Consumer Confidence Index. This is considered a very important measure of the health of the economy, as it provides insight into how Americans feel about the economy. When consumer confidence is rising, spending tends to rise. And when consumer confidence is falling, spending tends to fall (McWhinney). The Consumer Confidence Index can be an excellent tool for the media in providing information on the economy.

However, the media tends to focus solely on the negative movements of the Consumer Confidence Index. The media always tends to focus on tragedy rather than triumph. Sensationalism is a very good way to create higher viewership or readership. This is true throughout all areas of reporting, even when it comes to the economy. When reporting on consumer confidence, the media often turns to a worse case scenario. For example, in a 12 month period from early 2007 to early 2008, there were seven months with positive consumer confidence, and five months with negative consumer confidence. However, of 32 articles on consumer confidence, there were 31 negative articles, and only one positive article (Burchfiel). Even worse, this one positive article showed doubt to the future of the Consumer Confidence Index.

In January 2008, NBC Nightly News reported that consumer confidence was at an all-time low. However, the Consumer Confidence Index for January was measured at 87.9, compared to the real all-time low of 43.2 in December 1974. The media has shown a complete lack of discretion when it comes to reporting on the Consumer Confidence Index. They speak on completely false terms, and fail to give context with their statements. There are reports of record high drops in consumer confidence month to month, with no mention of the record high rise the month prior (Burchfiel). The media picks up these stories and runs with them, as they provide a hot topic that readers enjoy to follow. Since consumer confidence shows what ordinary people think of the economy, and not just economists, it creates a common ground for the general public. Individuals can see what their peers think about the economy. And when people think those around them are down on the economy, they likely will become down on the economy too.

Oftentimes this false reporting on consumer confidence leads to more troubles in the economy. The media is doing more than providing statistics on the economy, they are providing the mind frame for the general public. Even in the late 1980s, researchers were recognizing the negative effects of the media on consumer confidence. “The news media are doing more than simply communicating news about economic events; they are defining the meaning of the events. In turn, the media definitions appear to serve as excellent guides to the distribution of public sentiment about the economy”(Tims et all). What the media fails to realize is that they are not just providing information on the state of the economy, they are influencing the economy itself. When media outlets speak in negative terms about the state of the economy, people will begin to think the economy is in bad shape, which in turn hurts consumer confidence. This will be reflected in new reports by the media, which could cause even lower consumer confidence.

The media trends towards negative reports when it comes to consumer confidence. While being aware of the state of the economy is very important, it is very important to stay on top of what is really going on in the world. While there might have been massive drops in consumer confidence, it is up to the media to also report that this follows massive gains from earlier. The media needs to be careful with their reports on consumer confidence, as they have more influence than most seem to believe.