Big Think - Depression and anxiety triggers are ‘best practices’ in bad journalism | Amanda Ripley
Amanda Ripley, a journalist and author, discusses the current state of news consumption and its psychological effects. She highlights that many people are avoiding news due to its repetitive, negative, and untrustworthy nature. This avoidance is driven by political polarization and the tendency of news outlets to focus on extreme and sensational content. Ripley argues that the news industry must change to better serve the public by incorporating elements of hope, agency, and dignity. These elements are essential for human well-being and democracy, as they provide a sense of purpose and the belief that individuals can make a difference. Ripley suggests that journalism should focus on solutions and engage with audiences to understand their needs, rather than just reporting on disasters and conflicts. This approach can help rebuild trust and make news consumption a more positive experience.
Key Points:
- News consumption is increasingly avoided due to its negative impact and lack of trust, with 4 in 10 Americans actively avoiding it.
- Political polarization exacerbates distrust in news, with only 39% of Democrats and 14% of Republicans trusting news sources.
- Current news practices contribute to depression and anxiety by focusing on negative and sensational content.
- Journalism should incorporate hope, agency, and dignity to improve public engagement and trust.
- Engaging with audiences to understand their needs and focusing on solutions can make news more constructive.
Details:
1. 📱 News Finds Us: Navigating the Information Overload
- News consumption has shifted from active seeking to being constantly available through digital means such as text messages and social media.
- A significant trust deficit exists, with no national news outlet trusted by more than half of American adults, indicating a need for rebuilding trust in media.
- The lack of a shared reality among the public complicates addressing societal issues and increases vulnerability to manipulation by divisive figures.
- News must adapt to the current technological and psychological environment to help individuals better understand and navigate a complex global society.
2. 📰 The Trust Crisis in Journalism
- In 2016, the effectiveness of news in informing or changing viewpoints was questioned, as it seemed to reinforce existing beliefs rather than challenge them.
- A journalist with 20 years of experience noted a decline in the impact of news stories, describing them as either exacerbating political and social divisions or having no effect at all.
- The journalist experienced news fatigue, likening the consumption of news to a drug and attempted to mitigate its negative effects by limiting exposure.
- A therapist advised the journalist to stop consuming news if it was causing fear and distress, highlighting the psychological impact of news consumption.
- The need for constructive conflict in society was emphasized, suggesting that while debates are necessary, they must be conducted productively.
- Potential solutions for rebuilding trust include increasing transparency in reporting, engaging with audiences to understand their concerns, and providing context to news stories to foster informed discussions.
3. 🔍 Avoiding the News: A Global Phenomenon
- 40% of Americans actively avoid the news some or all of the time, while 10% are completely disconnected intentionally.
- Globally, people find news repetitive, dispiriting, and untrustworthy.
- 43% of people avoid news due to politics or COVID-related content, and 36% due to negative effects on mood.
- 29% feel overwhelmed by the amount of news, and 29% view it as untrustworthy or biased.
- News avoidance is partly driven by political polarization, which accelerates trust erosion.
- In 2022, only 39% of Democrats and 14% of Republicans trust the news, indicating low trust across political lines.
- The decline in trust creates a negative feedback loop, leading to more distortions and further decreasing trust.
- The availability of news that confirms personal biases exacerbates the situation.
4. ⚠️ The Impact of Biases and Competitive Pressures
- The rush to be first in an attention economy compromises quality, leading to less fact-checking and perspective.
- Competitive pressures and limited resources in newsrooms, especially in print, exacerbate these challenges.
- Frequent exposure to fear-inducing news can overwhelm audiences, contributing to anxiety and depression.
- Journalistic conventions often align with cognitive biases that lead to negative mental health outcomes.
- Consuming large amounts of news is linked to increased depression and anxiety.
- Digital media amplifies these biases due to algorithm-driven content prioritization.
- Examples include the spread of misinformation due to inadequate fact-checking in digital platforms.
- Print media struggles with resource shortages, impacting depth and quality of reporting.