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Resolved: Media outlets bear a greater responsibility than viewers incombating sensationalism

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Resolved: Media outlets bear a greater responsibility than viewers incombating sensationalism

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The phenomenon of sensationalism, a tactic where news stories are presented in an
exaggerated or provocative manner, has become increasingly common. It raises a critical
question: To what extent should media outlets versus viewers be held accountable?
Supporters of media outlets bearing greater responsibility claim that these outlets hold
power to shape public opinions and ought to counter the prevalence of sensationalism.
However, critics assert that content reflects audience preferences, and thus, viewers
should consume news more responsibly by evaluating news sources and supporting
outlets that prioritize accurate reporting. This debate hinges on the comparative impact
of media outlets and viewers. Which side has a more significant role to play in reducing
sensationalism?
The word "sensationalism" in the resolution refers to the practice of presenting news
stories in an attention-grabbing manner to generate interest in the audience. As opposed
to media, which refers to methods or channels of communication used to transmit
information (e.g. TV, radio, and print), "media outlets" specifically denote organizations
(e.g. CNN, BBC, and Formosa News) that produce and distribute news, information, and
entertainment through various channels. "Viewers" are individuals who consume media
content through media platforms. Also note that the word "greater" is vague, and thus,
the debaters should set up a comparative framework from the outset. This can be done by
arguing that one impact is bigger (in terms of magnitude), faster (in terms of time frame),
or more likely (in terms of probability) than another. Such a framework provides a set of
standards that will weigh into the judges’ decision.
As this is a public forum debate, the emphasis should NOT be placed on how
sensationalism can be curtailed. The pro side thus need not detail a plan for media outlets
to fight sensationalism, nor should the con side ask questions concerning that issue.
Instead, the debaters should focus on arguing the reasons and presenting evidence for
more responsibility on the part of either media outlets or viewers.
Following is a list of references meant to serve as some groundwork for debaters, which
means it is by no means comprehensive or flawless. Many of the references also contain
information or arguments that may not be directly relevant and thus warrant closer
examination. Students are still encouraged to continue researching in order to deepen
their understanding of the issue and strengthen their arguments in preparation for their
debate rounds.

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How to combat fake news and disinformation | Brookings

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Executive summary Journalism is in a state of considerable flux. New digital platforms have unleashed innovative journalistic practices that enable novel forms of communication and greater global reach than at any point in human history. But on the other hand, disinformation and hoaxes that are popularly referred to as “fake news” are accelerating and affecting […]

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MHS Chronicle Online - The Student-Run News of William Mason High School

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Sensationalism is a fickle thing.

In celebrity culture, it is used to cultivate gossip, giving people everywhere clickbait headlines to like and retweet.

In politics, it is used to spread propaganda against a particular candidate or party, mislabeling scandals and spurring tensions among both sides.

But more often than not, sensationalism is used to transform a dystopic and inane aspect of society into a feel-good story that is easily digestible to general audiences.

For those who are unaware, sensationalist writing in journalism is essentially any journalism that might bend or warp the truth to evoke emotional reactions from the widest variety of people possible. While sensationalist writing within political journalism and celebrity gossip err on the side of misinformation and intentionally omission of key details, the mass media market's insistence on repackaging injustices as tales of heroism is heavily reliant on appealing to one's pathos above all else.

In late January, CBS News reported on how a rural area in New York saw local high school students train to maintain a cripple volunteer ambulance service. Titled "American youth to the rescue", the news report primarily focused on how teenagers had stepped in to fill in a void left after immunocompromised and elderly members of the volunteer service were fearful to go out due to the pandemic, completely dancing around the reality that teenagers are attempting to fill in a void that the government should be filling in already.

According to the National Rural Health Association (NHRA), 35% of emergency medical services are entirely volunteer-run, with close
to 70% struggling to find help. This statistic was briefly mentioned in the report, along with a harrowing account from a teenage volunteer of how they had to inform loved ones that a family member of theirs had passed away.

So why is the news report writing off this issue to promote high schoolers as heroes rather than victims of a broken system? Because empowering stories of heroes are significantly easier to sell than stories that highlight what society is doing incorrectly. We have got to stop enabling this behavior.

As our high school's newspaper, we strive to bring accurate information in a way that highlights hot button issues in our local community without sacrificing our credibility and without detracting from the hard work of any other individuals. But we rely on students to continue to hold us accountable for not just the individual errors in the words we print, but also those in the stories we tell. With our staff consisting of students of all grade levels, backgrounds, and cultures, there are a lot of opinions to go around. Even on a larger scale, viewers are bombarded with an influx of sensationalist pieces from media outlets fighting to stay relevant. But we cannot lose sight of what the role of a media organization is, regardless of how big our world gets.

Media organizations should give a voice to the unheard, tell stories of injustices, and bring attention to issues that do not get enough of it. They should never warp the truth, especially when it concerns the lives of others.

Creating a sensationalist piece for a paycheck instead of addressing the root of the problem lies in the face of the role of journalistic outlets globally, and it is something that we wish to never fall victim to when telling the stories of the 3600 students and beyond here at Mason.

Hold us accountable, MHS.

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Staff Editorial - It's time to hold the media accountable - MHS Chronicle Online

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Sensationalism is a fickle thing. In celebrity culture, it is used to cultivate gossip, giving people everywhere clickbait headlines to like and retweet. In politics, it is used to spread propaganda against a particular candidate or party, mislabeling scandals and spurring tensions among both sides.

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Sensationalism is a tactic used in an attempt to gain an audience's attention. Media outlets resort to the use of shocking words, exaggeration and sometimes blatant lies.

Alison Dagnes, a professor of political science at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, described some of the ways sensationalism is used.

"Amplifying language, trying to use very big words that are exacerbating," Dagnes said. "Something that invokes ... a whole lot of emotion."

This has been a topic of controversial debate for some time now and raises questions of whether the drive for sensationalism conflicts with a journalist's duty for fair and honest reporting.

Sensationalism Tactics

Sensationalism is used by journalists to attract readers to their articles. David Berube - a communications professor focusing on science and technology from North Carolina State University - provided some insight on sensationalism and the tactics used with it.

"It goes everywhere from the teaser, which is an old trick ... it is done in print and broadcast media, all the way to outright lies," Berube said.

One of the biggest uses of sensationalism is headlines. When you are looking at a magazine or website and see those big bolded words, they attract your attention. News and media outlets know that headlines attract readers, so they use this to their advantage. Often times headlines feature an over-exaggerated display of events. With the right wording, the most mundane thing can be blown out of proportion.

Fear-mongering is the act of intentionally playing with the fears of others to arouse fear or anger - another sensationalist tactic. Media outlets will prey on the fears of others in order for them to notice their content.

"Once you get someone's attention, then you know you can weave your way through a very convoluted and probably implausible argument and make it appear more reasonable," Berube said.

"Once you get someone's attention, then you know you can weave your way through a very convoluted and probably implausible argument and make it appear more reasonable."

Sensationalism also raises concerns in the ethical conflicts it has with a journalist's code of honor. The over-exaggerated nature conflicts with a journalist's duty to be honest and fair.

As a journalist, it is their duty to deliver facts to the public and not be deceptive with their stories. Sensationalism violates a lot of ethical guidelines in favor of these tactics.

This becomes even more of a concern when journalists act without all the facts. An article published on The Single talked about instances where cases like this can cause serious problems.

It brought up the "Covington Catholic Boys" incident, where students were doxxed and harassed because CNN falsely accused them of harassing Indigenous protesters in Washington D.C. They based this information on one video without doing any further information. The truth only came out when other news outlets found false information in the story.

Instances like this are sensationalist, from misleading headlines to spreading harmful information. There are personal repercussions these types of articles have on people's lives.

Sensationalism in Politics

Sensationalism has deep roots in politics and is a common tactic used by politicians and news outlets to push their agenda. This can be seen in the earliest days of our country's politics.

"When John Quincy Adams was running against Jackson in the election, it was just nasty as hell," Berube said. "It was just full of exaggeration and sensationalism."

Sensationalism and the media have a direct impact on politics.

"Media actors will start using exaggerated words, and then politicians will pick up on them," Dagnes said.

"Media actors will start using exaggerated words, and then politicians will pick up on them."

An example of this would be when Trump picked up on the nickname "Crooked Hillary" to describe his opponent in the 2016 election.

CBS News did an article during the election last year, talking about how Trump used fear and anxiety to motivate voters. Trump would say things like, "No one will be safe in Biden's America."

These exaggerations and lies are what shaped the political climate from 2016 all the way through 2020. This raises concerns on whether sensationalism will become even more prominent in politics.

"I think it's getting worse," Berube said. "But I think it was really bad in other terms of history, so I just think it's because we're cycling through one of those really awful periods."

Sensationalism is Conflicting

The thing about sensationalism is that it actually works, according to psychology studies on the topic of "clickbait." The term has been popularized to define content that is intentionally made to attract views, and lure people into clicking a link. This type of content is a perfect example of sensationalism in the digital age.

The article wrote about the psychological aspect of clickbait and how people are drawn to it. The promise of something compelling activates a particular dopamine pathway. Once released, it creates an itch that is scratched by obtaining the information that was promised.

"I think the reason the journalist turns to sensationalism is that we readership is so attracted to the dramatic and sensational," Berube said. "The Greeks discovered years ago people love drama and so it becomes the tool that they can use."

People are naturally attracted to the bold and daring; therefore, journalists feel the need to appeal to this. The companies that these journalists work for also take note of this and exploit readership.

While readers may get annoyed when they open a sensationalized article, only to find that the contents lack any of the substance promised by the headline, this ultimately does not affect the people who make these. The article will still get interaction, which leads to receiving more ad revenue since it is popular.

"All journalistic outlets are money-making endeavors," Dagnes said. "[Media outlets] have to pay their journalists, photographers and website developers."

The people writing the headlines know that if the article doesn't get any viewership, the people involved are financially hurt. This motivates them to go with a sensational headline.

Sensationalism will not be going anywhere - it is too engraved in our society. It will always have a complex relationship between the people consuming the content and the people producing it. Our best approach is to be cautious of this content and try to see through the lies that are being presented to us.

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Sensationalism is a tactic used in an attempt to gain an audience's attention. Media outlets resort to the use of shocking words, exaggeration and sometimes blatant lies. Alison Dagnes, a professor of political science at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, described some of the ways sensationalism is used.

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LONDON - What is the role of journalists in promoting understanding and dialogue, especially in a media environment that is often driven by sensationalism?

This was among the questions explored by two experienced journalists in the United Kingdom-a former BBC reporter and a writer for The Guardian newspaper-along with members of the Bahá'í Office of Public Affairs of that country in a recent podcast produced by that Office titled In Good Faith: Truth and Standards in Media.

"Writers have to be free from prejudice, fair-minded, and be able to look at issues with a sense of justice," said Carmel Kalani, of the Office of Public Affairs.

Ms. Kalani drew on an analogy from the Bahá'í teachings to describe the power of the media in raising public consciousness, stating: "Newspapers, social media, and other forms of media are like 'the mirror of the world.' They are 'endowed with hearing, sight, and speech.'"

One of the implications of this, she said, is that articles and other forms of expression by journalists have the potential to inspire in all of us a sense of oneness with our fellow human beings.

"When journalists tell a story, they shape the world we live in, they shape what we see as possible," said Ms. Kalani, explaining that the media can unlock the "immense capability of people to bring about unity and peace."

Despite this tremendous potential, certain practices place pressure on journalists to produce reports that are sensationalist, such as surprising people in distress for an interview.

"There's something called the 'door-knock' in journalism, whereby you have to go and knock on somebody's door, who's in the middle of a story, usually through no fault of their own... and ask them for a comment on their doorstep," said John McManus, former BBC reporter and head of communications for the Jesuits in Briton.

"It [is] purely to fill time and a news story," continued Mr. McManus, as he explained that this approach typically does not yield any new facts. Instead, it caters to the audience's appetite for the dramatic and can distract attention from the real issues.

Mr. McManus added that many journalists are uncomfortable with practices in their field that lead to sensationalist news coverage and stressed the importance of empathy and preservation of human dignity when reporting. "At the heart of all these stories are human beings with feelings. ... They've all got family. So I always try to remember that, [which] moderates my thinking and actions."

Remona Aly, a reporter for The Guardian, stated: "You have this sense of responsibility to whoever you're interviewing. ... I really try hard to maintain that protection. I say [to the interviewee] 'you can look over the article afterwards so that you're comfortable with it.'"

Discussions also looked at how biases and false dichotomies can reduce multi-faceted issues to simplistic representations of reality that reinforce social, political, economic, and religious divides, leading to sensationalist news coverage.

Mr. McManus, speaking about the responsibility of journalists to maintain objectivity, stated: "Things are not black and white. You can hold two different points of view in your mind which are both correct, because we know that human life is infinitely varied and complex."

Reflecting on this discussion, Nancy Warren, of the Bahá'í Office of Public Affairs, explains that this podcast series is part of the ongoing efforts of the Office to contribute to the discourse on the constructive role of media in society.

"People begin their journalistic career with very high ideals, but they eventually find it difficult to write in a way that is in line with their principles," she says.

"The forums offered by the Office-be they podcasts, online discussions, or in-person gatherings-provide a space for journalists to explore prevalent issues in their field in light of spiritual principles that resonate with their moral convictions."

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United Kingdom: How sensationalist journalism obscures view of reality | BWNS

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Experienced journalists sat with the UK Bahá'í Office of Public Affairs to explore how news reporting can promote understanding and dialogue.

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TAIPEI (Taiwan News) - Taiwan ranked highly on Reporters Without Borders' (RSF) press freedom index in 2023, which said the country had very good conditions for journalists.

Taiwan's high scores for press freedom are often presented in the context of looming Chinese authoritarianism, and highlight Taiwan's role as a model for high quality reporting in the region. While this is often true for foreign correspondents in Taiwan who report on countries where press freedom is severely lacking, this is not the case for Taiwan's domestic news media.

National Chengchi University assistant professor and media expert Huang Jaw-Nian (黃兆年), said while there are some journalists in Taiwan that prioritize facts and non-biased reporting, a large number do not. He said the result is one of the lowest levels of public trust in the media of any democratic country.

Huang's assertion is backed by research. In 2022, the University of Oxford and Reuters found only 27% of Taiwanese trust the news overall, and where trust in the media exists, it is developed through outlets' highly polarized political affiliations. RSF found the same, and said in their 2023 report that "journalists suffer from a very polarized media environment dominated by sensationalism and the pursuit of profit."

Huang said that while the media is no longer controlled by an authoritarian state, it does suffer from authoritarian influence, as the commercial nature of the small number of companies now in control of Taiwan's media allows foreign companies and other groups to influence the media landscape.

Taiwan's growth in press freedom occurred concurrently with media market reform that followed a wider wave of neo-liberal economic policies that swept the globe beginning in the late 1980s, Huang said. He said as full liberalization of the media was realized, Taiwan's media became increasingly susceptable to Chinese influence.

"China's influence makes use of the free market in Taiwan, to basically provide economic resources to these media outlets, while some media owners in Taiwan have actually based their businesses in the Chinese market," Huang said.

"Is it actually media freedom, or is it freedom for the big companies, or even Beijing's freedom?" Huang asked.

Speaking in late March, Huang said fake news spreads easily in Taiwan because outlets look for sensational stories that will increase the click-through rate.

An April 12 Facebook post from the Ministry of National Defense warning the public to disregard false information being spread on the popular social networking site PTT.

He said that even if the profit motive is not coming directly from Beijing, making money through clickable stories on social media is incentive enough for Taiwanese media to spread pro-Chinese narratives. As recently as April, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense posted on Facebook imploring people not to spread false information about Chinese military drills around the island.

Real life consequences were attributed to poor fact checking in 2018, when the suicide of a Taiwanese diplomat in Japan was linked to the spread of misinformation. A widely shared story alleged that the Taiwanese diplomat's inaction led to Taiwanese becoming stranded at a Japanese airport that was hit by a typhoon, and that China's embassy had stepped in to rescue them.

The story was later proved to be untrue, and was initially thought to have been fabricated by Chinese actors attempting to spread disinformation, while some sources suggest that Taiwanese actors working to aid local opposition parties were responsible. Regardless, diplomat Su Chi-cheng (蘇啟誠) committed suicide before a meeting to review the incident in relation to the false claims.

Taiwan News spoke to a retired journalist who began working in Taiwan in the early 1990s, who agreed that accuracy often took second place. "I think Taiwan's media should tighten up on basic news reporting principles, such as truthfulness, objectivity, and precision, which are obviously loose in many news reports in Taiwan," said George Liao, who previously reported for Taiwan News.

Protesters carry a coffin to protest the death of Taiwanese diplomat Su Chi-cheng. (CNA photo)

To tackle the problems created by poor journalistic standards and commercialization, Huang recommends better government regulation, and improved education for journalists. He said that involvement and oversight by government regulators has increased over the past decade, and that their involvement should continue going forward.

Huang said that Taiwan's National Communications Commission (NCC) should use their ability to fine outlets that publish false information more often. He said he believes this could help to establish a more positive culture, and provide a mechanism for journalists to incentivize better reporting.

"We need strong check and balance mechanisms for the media," Huang said. "I don't think self-discipline is sufficient from past experience."

Huang said a second and more fundamental change could be achieved through better education for those working in the media.

"In terms of media professionalism for journalists and reporters in Taiwan, we need them to really believe in principles, ethical principles, professional principles, that they really insist on when they do their job," he said. "I believe education is necessary for a positive culture in the Taiwanese media field."

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Research says Taiwan's local media free, but not well trusted | Taiwan News | 2023-05-19 20:20:00

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Misinformation and political polarization rife, says National Chengchi University assistant professor | 2023-05-19 20:20:00

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1. Review the contest rules
2. Explore the subject matter of the debate resolution.

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This is a short tutorial on the basic information you need to know when starting out in Public Forum Debate. Want to learn more? Visit my blog on the matter: http://jmanyc.edublogs.org

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Study Guide for 2024 Public Forum Debate

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Notes

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感謝嬿羽老師願意擔任指導，以及組員的應允，使台東高中能夠成隊。辯論的處女賽，即以英文進行，帶來了莫大的挑戰，身為隊長必須掌控訓練節奏以及線上會議，學到同理心和責任心的重要，過程中有許多摩擦，曾想過放棄，但嬿羽老師耐心鼓勵，激發好勝心，比賽前深夜的會議，也讓我認知道自己不是一個人作戰。比賽當天的狀況有些不滿意，但組員間的鼓勵和現場應變，讓我學到了很多，也認識來自他校的對手，比賽間十分刺激，雙方的你來我往令我愉快，希望能在將來創立英辯社，讓更多人得以接觸英文辯論。

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這是我第一次參加辯論比賽，我得到很多新的經驗與技能。其中包括快速記錄對方的論點、尋找漏洞來攻擊別人、以及如何應對別人提出的各式各樣的問題。我覺得自己說英文的口才有變好，唸一大段文字時能說得更加順暢。但是比起其他更厲害的人，我還有非常多要改進的地方，需要日後再努力訓練。我們花了很多課餘時間練習，有時在週六晚上開線上會議討論辯題，還有幾次請公假在輔導室的樓上一起訓練、查資料做證據卡。在這幾次的聚會中，我有機會跟隊員們交流、學習，收獲滿滿。比賽當天，我感到十分緊張，但是有隊友的幫忙讓我們能順利完成比賽，我非常感謝。謝謝嬿羽老師費盡心思和努力帶我們比賽，您的付出讓我不勝感激，您把我們這些萌懂無知的小朋友，訓練成優秀的辯士！

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非常感謝帶隊的嬿羽老師，老師真的非常認真。我覺得辯論是道高牆，我還在牆的底端。經過幾個禮拜的熬夜準備、午休團練，原本以為能輕易進入前三，卻發現我們想得實在太簡單了。對手不只熟讀資料，更想出不少觀點獨到的例子使我們難以招架；反觀專注於準備資料卡的我們，因為疏於配合和練習，反而出了不少醜。因此對此狀況我提出以下建議：1. 增加對內相互練習的機會。2.在獲得辯題時先分析辯題得核心。3.增加與他校的練習機會增廣視野。明年還有參與辯論比賽的機會，而我必定會參加，誓要和隊友拿下全國賽的代表權。

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這是我第一次參加英文比賽，也是我第一次參加辯論比賽，所以有很多不熟悉的地方，但我的組員都有參加過不同活動的經驗，幫助我們在準備階段有效率地推進工作。我是備取辯士，被分配到後勤工作，負責創意發想、協助製作證據卡和紀錄對手在比賽中提出的觀點和內容。我目前還不具備作為正式辯士的口說和反應能力，這次比賽讓我看到其他辯士各自擁有的優勢，也從他們身上學到一些方法。我很感謝隊友們的幫忙以及學校老師的鼓勵，幫助我順利的完成工作。