“Attention Economics” – how media’s use of “alarming” words inflates reality
“Attention economics” and media headline escalation drives click bait stories. Everything now has a dramatic, scary headline.
Media: Celebrating the 250th anniversary
With negativity, doom and gloom. The US is the worst country in the history of the world according to media experts.
Media: “Plummeting gas prices” bring new problems
Always spin the story to negativity. Everything is awful. There is no good news that cannot be turned into negativity by the Masters of Doomerism!
Media: “The American Dream is Dead”
“The American Dream is Dead” trope has been around for 50+ years, is not true, but the media loves running these nonsense stories to ruin your life.
Media: “Rare heat alert”
The UK weather service did not issue heat alerts until 2008. So, with just 18 years of history, they would be sort of rare, wouldn’t they?
Social: False claims made about Washington Fire
A major wildland fire blew through the neighborhood I used to live in. Homes a short distance away burned. Our old home, 3 days later, remains under mandatory evacuation orders. Comments and claims made on social media about this fire are false.
Media: “Alpine Divorce – the new viral date”
The media jumped from a social media post to a “trend” that is not a trend.
Media: The Guardian does it again
The Guardian says avalanche near Donner Summit was due to the ClimateCrisis(TM).
Atlantic Magazine misleads readers with fictional story presented as reality
An essay in The Atlantic describes a mother who loses a son to measles. It’s presented as a true story – except it was fake.
Media: Latest epidemic to kill everyone
Of course. Media fear porn sells.