The world is engulfed in fear. Fear is everywhere. The biggest question is whether it is the fact that there are criminals all around us, or it is in the head. Stats show that crime rates have significantly reduced. Therefore, it is expected that the element of fear should also reduce. But this is not the case. Who is spreading the propaganda of fear? Media plays the central part in this. These are some of the fundamental questions which go through my head when I think of the harm that media organizations are inflicting on people. What people should do is ignore this form of reporting. This will significantly reduce the impact that negative reporting has on them.
This is sometimes hard. In cases where information is unveiled to people in circumstances that can be harmful to them, it is also essential to shield such people from such revelations. It is appalling to imagine that the very sector that is supposed to report good things is doing the exact opposite. There is so much good happening in the world. Media focus should be on those areas. This way, this fear that we are experiencing will significantly reduce.
Fear is simply in everyone’s hearts. Reports of carjacking, robberies, muggings, and murder will never lack in a news item on any day. Stress levels have shot up because of this. When we look at the larger picture, it weighs heavily on the economic performances of individuals.
Nowadays, media has shifted focus from the critical news to ‘fearsome’ reporting. In an actual sense, this can trigger fear from any person. This is because it is not news that features today, and tomorrow is gone, and it is daily. Don’t you think that this fear may be coming from other forms of reporting? Do you think that, generally, this has contributed to a society of people who constantly have a negative view of what might happen?
A perfect example is a continuing violence in Libya. The media has focused so greatly on it. What do you think might be the effect of a sounding gunshot, maybe in Uganda? Simply put, I am saying that it is not just the fear of violent situations from individuals we are facing; fear is all around us.
In Mexico, there are areas that people cannot visit. This is simply because of the cartels that control those areas. These drug cartels have instilled a lot of fear in the residents who find it hard to take a personal risk of going to those places. The role of the media is quite profound in this. As you argued, reporters and editors always look for stories that bring in majority viewership. Unfortunately, stories of violence have taken a larger share of this.
Although this is informative, people can take the necessary precautions. It is also quite harmful to a person’s welfare. The biggest question is whether media is aware of the negative implications its reporting has on the people? Does it ignore or ride on the fact that they have a right to report anything? In my case, the media is motivated by monetary gains. Is the government unaware of this? Most governments are aware but ignore because the same media will demonize a regime for infringing on its freedom.
Media is the biggest contributor to violence in the world. These violent criminals want to see this public limelight. This is why they commit more and more crimes to enjoy this media bliss. When this happens, people panic. Fear increases the risk of victimization as the perpetrators of the violence feel that they are in a higher position. They also get excited at the fact that they are victimizing people. What do you think should be the government’s positions in this? Is there some form of ethics that should govern the conduct of the media in this?