The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens

The Neuroscience of Good Journalism: How Constructive Journalism Uses Information to Empower with Maren Urner

85 snips
Apr 23, 2025
Maren Urner, a neuroscientist and professor, delves into the crucial role of constructive journalism in empowering communities and restoring trust in media. She discusses the psychological impacts of negative news consumption on mental health and urges a shift towards balanced narratives. Urner also examines how cognitive biases affect media engagement and highlights the tension between profit motives and journalistic integrity. Ultimately, she advocates for responsible journalism as a catalyst for collective action and positive societal change.
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INSIGHT

Press Freedom Supports Democracy

  • Free information is the backbone of democracy and open societies.
  • Where democracies fail, dictators first eliminate free press to control information.
INSIGHT

Brain's Bias for Negative News

  • Our brains are wired to focus on negative news because of survival instincts.
  • Negative news triggers loss aversion and heightened attention responses.
INSIGHT

Journalism Is Never Neutral

  • Journalism cannot be truly neutral as information always changes people's brains.
  • The choice of what and how to report inherently impacts the audience's mindset.
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