"Why can't we have more good in newscasts?"
It's certainly something that's hard to ignore. We are constantly bombarded with death, destruction, controversy and scandal. Some people have decided to tune it out, and I don't necessarily blame them. It's admittedly hard on reporters and others in "the news" to deal with the constant negativity, I can only imagine what it's like for someone outside of that circle to deal with on a daily basis. The result? An uptick in the number of "good news" stories being passed around.
It begs a really interesting question in the grand scheme of things: what is a good mix of "bad news" and "good news"?
You see, not everyone likes good news. In fact, some detest it. Whenever you see a good news story mixed into the run, you will see some pretty normal reactions. "This isn't news", "must be a slow news day" or "there are bigger stories you should be reporting on." It happens EVERY time. So, as a reporter, you're a little gun-shy to do those kinds of stories.
Follower: "I'm tired of politics. Post some good news!"
— Joe McFarland (@JoeMcFarland) October 4, 2016
Posts good news.
Others: "This isn't news" or "must be a slow news day."
Ugh. #yyc
The other interesting reaction happens when it comes to organizations that don't necessarily get positive stories. Let's use police as an example. Every so often, you see the stories about officers doing good things. A reporter will cover that story, but then get lambasted for playing "public relations" for police, trying to cover up whatever scandal might be out there. Same goes for politicians. Heck, even when we do feel good stories about a birth at the Calgary Zoo, some people will complain about how it's covering up the wrongs happening at the Zoo. It's a no-win proposition.
I've had this conversation with a few different people, both in the industry and out of it, because I've always believed in having a wide-ranging discussion about these kinds of things, in hopes of getting a better-rounded product for my listeners. The challenge is finding balance. You can't ignore the bad happening in the world, but you also can't shy away from the good.
Is the old adage of "if it bleeds, it leads" dead? Does sex still sell? I remember being told that good news just doesn't work. No one pays attention to it. I'm curious, in the day-and-age of the internet, if that is all changing.
I'm also curious about the societal impact of having more "good news"? Would people be more-inclined to do good things if they knew there was good out there in the world? Would people feel better about the world if they had better news around them? Or would they simply sluff it off after a while, saying it's "not really news" or that it's "propaganda for those with something to hide"? Then, of course, that fuels that "mainstream media" hatred that seems to be making the rounds.
Don't get me wrong. I still believe in the power of investigative reporting. Accountability is extremely important and should be viewed as such. We can't not report on the bad things around our communities and around our world either.
But the question still remains: is there room for some good news in the world as well?
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