Log #3

Non-stop and Over-detailed Reports

In my previous logs, I mentioned the problem of misleading headlines and media bias. In addition, over-reporting is also part of media chaos. In my understanding, over-reporting includes repeated reports and extremely detailed contents.

When something significant happens, the news media would start a serious of reports. They keep reporting the same incident for a long time and make the audience surrounded by their reports all the time. Although it’s the journalists’ duty to convey the latest messages to the public; however, their non-stop reporting was keeping reminding the victims’ families and friends of those sorrowful memories. Also, their repeated news about cruel incidents make the public immersed in negative emotions. What’s worse, it might arouse potential criminals to commit crimes and increase tragedies. Moreover, because of focusing on certain incidents, the journalists sometimes ignored other big issues and fail to achieve their task of conveying the important messages.

In addition, the news media often provide very detailed reports, which are sometimes over-detailed. For example, the journalists sometimes violate the privacy of people who are involved by revealing their photos or Facebook posts. Besides, the over-detailed contents are sometimes meaningless, such as reporting what the victims of the car accident had for dinner. These messages are unimportant to the audience and have nothing to do with the major issue.

Repeated reports and over-detailed news both have bad influence to the society. Therefore, I think the journalists should pay attention to this issue the be responsible to their jobs.

References:

https://www.thenewslens.com/article/39165

https://www.peopo.org/news/255485

http://tw.on.cc/tw/bkn/cnt/commentary/20150826/bkntw-20150826000520497-0826_04411_001.html