Plain English with Derek Thompson cover image

Plain English with Derek Thompson

The News Media’s Dangerous Addiction to ‘Fake Facts’

Jun 7, 2024
Jerusalem Demsas, a staff writer at The Atlantic and host of the podcast Good on Paper, dives into media biases that skew public perception. She discusses the alarming trend of negativity in news reporting, emphasizing that audiences share the blame for sensationalism. Demsas critiques misguided narratives around maternal mortality and highlights how misinformation impacts public trust, especially during crises like COVID-19. Her insights reveal the importance of critical evaluation of news, urging listeners to seek out grounded, factual discourse.
47:54

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Quick takeaways

  • The most significant bias in news media is towards negativity and catastrophes, shaping public perceptions and trust.
  • Audience behavior influences news media bias, emphasizing negative stories over positives and shaping news presentation.

Deep dives

Negativity Bias in News Media

The most important bias in news media is a bias toward negativity and catastrophe. The news often focuses on negative aspects and catastrophes, which leads to intense institutional mistrust and bias against various sectors. This bias is not solely attributed to the news media but is also influenced by audience behavior, shaping what news is presented. Understanding this negativity bias is crucial in comprehending the current state of media and societal trust.

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