News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more good news was reported? Discuss.
The eminence of news editors has risen dramatically, so much so that the inclusion and exclusion of news from the various mediums of reporting depends on their discretion. This propensity is impacting the audience in multiple ways, mostly in undesirable ways. Nevertheless, reporting more good news is unlikely to help turn the situation around.
Rising commercial pressures has deviated media houses from their true objective of bringing honest reports to the masses, and are competing to expand their clout among masses. Thus, they have resorted to presenting sensationalised news to raise viewership and readership, so that they get more and more followers. This kind of reporting has gradually helped develop an appetite among people for fateful news: they open the newspapers and switch on the television sets to know about only unpleasant happenings.
This has prompted many to propose incorporating more reports that represent pleasant happenings and events. It will go a long way, as per them, to lift the dipping public moods and their spirits. Most have become hopeless about the conditions prevalent in the society, and this is all due to irresponsible conduct of those heading newspapers and television channels, but positive reporting will gradually change the things.
Nonetheless, many are skeptical about the former suggestion, and they feel such moves may prove to be futile and instead predispose people to hazards and unwarranted situations. Prioritizing printing and telecasting cheerful events or occurrences may make many oblivious to the lurking dangers around them, making them vulnerable to perils which could also prove to be life threatening.
Overall, the founding principle of any news reporting agency is to act honestly and impartially, and not surrender to any temptation or coercion. They must bring news as it is and let the audience judge its nature.
