Again, what is NEWS?

So, a case of Ebola has been reportedly confirmed in the US.

Of course this is news.

From today's FB feed:

So you see, a friend shares an NBC report indicating a single case of Ebola in the US.

And my reply is, what about all the other stuff that is far more deadly which is not reported in the news?

So why is Ebola news but the rest is not?

Why do we fear the things that are least likely to happen to us?

... while we don't fear the things that are most likely to harm us?

Yes, the media share a lot of the blame. Because of what they cover. And what they don't.

Turns out it is also innate to our species. It is part of our biology/psychology.

The dread factor predicts that events that are uncontrollable, catastrophic, fatal, and lead to involuntary exposure produce the most fear, anxiety, worry, and well, "dread."

Hence our fear of terrorism, shark attacks, and even ebola (although the latter is so unlikely to lead to involuntary exposure).

Watch TV and see the world as a "mean and scary place"

This is what studies conclude consistently. The more people watch TV the more they come to the world as a "mean and scary place."

They also become cynical, pessimistic, and fearful of people different then they.

And it's not wonder. Just look at the headlines today:

BREAKING NEWS: THE SEARCH FOR FLIGHT 370

'ALL LIVES ARE LOST'

Jet crashed in ocean, families told

A new analysis of satellite data shows the plane was lost in the southern Indian Ocean, Malaysia's PM says. DEVELOPING STORY

• Watch CNN live   | Live blog
• PM's statement | Who was on board?
• What the families were told
• Source: Plane dropped to 12,000 feet
• Was MH370 a 'ghost plane'?  

BREAKING NEWS: Oscar Pistorius trial

Girlfriend: 'I'm scared of you sometimes'

Messages retrieved from Oscar Pistorius' cell phone reveal a jealousy-fueled dispute between the athlete and the girlfriend he later shot to death. LIVE BLOG

More:

• Witness: 'Terrified, terrified screaming'
• Shots followed  
• Photos: Trial  
• Reeva Steenkamp  
• Oscar Pistorius   

• 

  SHOOTING DOWN A LAW
  Vt. sheriffs urged to ignore new gun control measures

  • Conn. officials tell gun owners to relinquish or destroy banned assault weapons

• 

  KARZAI KRAZINESS?
  Afghan president backs Putin's seizure of Crimea

  • Obama tries to contain Ukraine crisis in Europe trip, as Kiev fears new attack
  • House, Senate to clash this week on Ukraine, jobless pay measures
  • Russian forces seize Crimean base as Ukraine tells troops to withdraw
  • US races to close intelligence gaps as Russia moves elude spies

• 

  'THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE'
  Egypt court sentences 529 Morsi supporters to death

  • Egypt: Court orders prominent activist to be freed on bail

How is this for scary news?

Lead story on CNN:

Fancy car, nice house, mass executions

Terrifying boss in one part of Syria

The radical group ISIS emerged last year as a major power in opposition-controlled parts of Syria. It is accused of the same kind of atrocities as the Syrian regime it fights. FULL STORY

• Islamists' harsh rule leaves scars
• Missing man's foot, shoe found  
• Too brutal for al Qaeda?

And how about a female serial killer to boot?

• Craigslist suspect: I've killed dozens
• Teen claims she's a serial killer  

Seems like fear still sells.

Be afraid, be very afraid

...

That seems to be the point of a great deal of what passes today for the news.

What else explains these stories?

WANTED: 'WHITE WIDOW'
Terrorist's wife eyed in mall attack sought by Interpol

Group behind Kenya attack kills 2 at border security post

Concerns raised about fewer US drone strikes amid terror attacks



'REALLY FRIGHTENING'
First cases of flesh-eating
drug Krokodil surface in US

FLASHBACK: DEA monitoring Krokodil, a deadly morphine derivative

Dad allegedly injects 4-year-old with heroin

Americans: Addicted to Tragedy???

Wow, just wow.

This is some serious food for thought ... a serious criticism of the media and its role in our addiction, as well as how we feed it

From the article:

We've not only become attracted to catastrophe and chaos, but we've created 24/7/365 communication empires ready, posed, even eager to deliver the goods when the worst happens.

So I ask, has catastrophe become a kind of emotional catnip for us? You know, the kind of stuff we love to hate?

Whether it's school children mowed down by a crazed gunman, a bombing, even a fertilizer plant leveling half an American town, we no longer just shake our heads in disgust and disbelief and then go on with life. No, we don't. That was so last century. That's not enough today.

When one of these kind of events happen now an entire industry swings into action. News becomes reality TV - for real -- unscripted, unpredictable, unfolding as we breathlessly watch. And watch we will, because there's no escape. CNN, MSNBC, FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC, radio, internet, it's everywhere, all the time.

Read the rest:

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/boston-bombings-are-tragedy-theres-something-else-we-gotta-ask-america-drama-queen?paging=off

It’s Safe to Go Outside: NASA Says Its Falling Satellite Will Miss the U.S.

So says a headline in the NEW YORK TIMES!

Yes, the NEW YORK TIMES!

Note to the media: If a falling satellite hits your house, you'll still probably die. So why does it matter if it is "safe to go outside?"

Wow.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/24/science/space/24satellite.html

Oh my God, RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lizard on the loose in California.

(and why should I care about this in North Carolina?)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_odd_lost_lizard

Developing story: Beward of the "fringe looking character."

A "fringe character" shoots his member of Congress.

Be afraid. Very afraid.

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/08/132764367/congresswoman-shot-in-arizona?sc=tw&cc=share

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20110108/ts_yblog_theticket/report-congresswoman-giffords-shot

Media focus on a real risk to us -- US!

There are lots of things to be afraid of these days, and the media focus on many of them. As shown in the book, the media tend to promote fear of things that are least likely to hurt us.

In this case, it is focused on things most likely to hurt us -- ourseleves and our unhealthy lifestyles.

From the article:

People across the world continue to smoke, drink and avoid exercise even though they also fear their unhealthy lifestyles will lead to long-term chronic disease, an international study found on Tuesday.

Nearly half of the 12,000 people questioned across 12 countries admitted they only exercise for an hour a week or less, while 70 percent drink alcohol and almost a third smoke."

The bottom line? We know things are bad for us but we keep doing them.

At least with alcohol, experts actually advise that you can (and should) drink as part of a healthy lifestyle (in moderation, people, in moderation!).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40539236/ns/health/