Can anyone tell me why newspapers are so sensationalist?

Question

I just saw the front page of my towns newspaper and it showed a woman in obvious agony, crying and holding her dead child (the china earthquake). This does not encourage me to purchase the paper, in fact, i tend to avoid reading the paper/watching the news because the news is so depressing. Instead I choose to inform myself selectively on what is going on in the world. (And no, i dont think the world is getting worse. We are in the information era, where everything is readily accessible and news passes easily and quickly from country to country.)

But why must newspapers show pictures of peoples anguish and pain on the front pages, basically screaming them at you?

I wouldnt want my daughter to see pictures like that, and frankly it's distressing and disturbing for me to see them as well. Perhaps im not desensitized enough to see these images, but do papers have to be so brutal?

Answer 1

Because they are businesses trying to turn a profit and that stuff sells papers.

Answer 2

if it bleeds, it leads.

For some reason, our society has (on average of course) a sort of fascination about death and violence. This is why such publications as the Darwin Awards have gained popularity while discussing horrible deaths. In truth, I don't think anyone could tell you exactly why the news loves to discuss stories that are depressing and fear-inducing. they just do it.

Answer 3

its news! we only ever seem to report bad news as good news doesnt mean anything

Answer 4

Not all papers are sensationalist. The photo probably moved via AP with an advisory that it was particularly graphic. I suspect that there was some discussion in the newsroom about community tastes and standards before they decided to run it.

Sometimes images need to be distressing and disturbing in order to properly convey the horror of a situation. When I was a kid, there was a famous photo of a naked Vietnamese child running and screaming in the wake of a napalm attack.

That image still haunts me today. And it should.