In this engaging discussion, Amanda Ripley, a New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Good Conflict, uncovers the troubling state of American news media. She highlights how the current news cycle often fosters anxiety and depression, revealing alarming stats about declining trust across political lines. Ripley advocates for renewed journalistic practices that emphasize hope and dignity. She suggests that a community-focused approach could restore faith in media and better serve the public's needs.
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insights INSIGHT
News Trust Erosion Crisis
No national news outlet is trusted by more than half of American adults today.
Without a common sense of reality, solving societal problems becomes very difficult and makes people vulnerable to exploitation.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Amanda Ripley’s News Experience
Amanda Ripley once loved consuming news as a way to stay connected and curious.
By 2016, she felt the news cycle only intensified divisions and drained her energy.
insights INSIGHT
Avoidance and Polarization in News
More Americans are avoiding the news due to politics, negativity, and distrust.
Political polarization accelerates trust decline, energizing voters but deepening societal divisions.
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In High Conflict, Amanda Ripley delves into the phenomenon of 'high conflict,' which is distinct from the useful friction of healthy conflict. High conflict involves good-versus-evil feuds that lead to an 'us versus them' mentality, altering brain behavior and increasing feelings of superiority while worsening the conflict. The book follows various individuals in different contexts, including a conflict expert in California, a Chicago gang leader, and communities in Colombia, to illustrate how people get trapped in and eventually escape high conflict. Ripley highlights common forces such as conflict entrepreneurs, humiliation, and false binaries that drive high conflict and provides insights on how to transform these conflicts into productive ones by rehumanizing opponents and reviving curiosity and wonder.
"These days, no national news network is trusted by more than half of American adults. And that's a problem."
The news is broken. In the United States, it may feel like our news cycle is designed to make people anxious and depressed. It may feel like journalism exploits our divisions and amplifies our fears more than ever. But how can we fix it?
Amanda Ripley has been a journalist for over 20 years, and she’s diagnosing one of the US’ biggest problems: Our news. Ripley says that adding these 3 considerations back into the equation could save our media.
Chapters:
00:00 A common sense of reality
01:13 The news is broken
03:11 Avoiding the media
06:20 The cost of breaking news
07:20 Depression and anxiety triggers
08:10 A better way to cover news
About Amanda Ripley:
Amanda Ripley is a New York Times bestselling author, Washington Post contributor, and co-founder of consultancy firm, Good Conflict. Her books include The Smartest Kids in the World, High Conflict, and The Unthinkable.
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