It is often argued that the focus on issues and unpleasant or urgent situations rather than positive news in the media affects both citizens and the whole community in a negative way. I only partially accept this notion because it is the citizens’ right to get informed all the important conditions happening across the world regardless of whether they are positive or negative.
On the one hand, the exposure to negative news harms individuals in many different ways. The most significant issue is that people feel energy drain due to undesirable information. Being frequently bombarded by unwanted news, people become overwhelmed and cannot concentrate properly in their career, leading to lower productivity. For example, staff who has just heard about natural disasters such as an earthquake or flood may find it difficult to continue their work, worrying and relating to their hometown which is also prone to those kinds of catastrophes. If people encountered bad news consistently, it would be harmful to their mental well-being, resulting in stress, anxiety, and depression in the long term.
On the other hand, the essence and the core value of the media is its accountability. In other words, news reports need to be authentic and helpful to people in order to make informed decision making during urgent and critical situations. Emergency news, for instance, the spread of virus such as COVID-19 pandemic, should be highlighted and updated on a regular basis for the sake of the public. In this way, people can prepare and use effective preventative measures to stay safe.
In conclusion, although negative news may have potential drawbacks on the public’s mental health, it is essential to protect the lives of citizens in some urgent conditions as mentioned above. Therefore, I believe that the media should represent both positive and negative news while maintaining the public’s well-being and adjusting the advantages and the disadvantages of a news report.