Donna Woolfolk Cross', All the News that Fits, is an interesting study that shows the American electorate and how they are willing to keep the pro-establishment practice in the media. Two such TV news stories are categorized as "safe disasters" and "Happy News".
"Safe disasters" are usually local stories such as fires and muggings. These stories such as a major fire, play on childhood fears and help distract "viewers from more adult worries". Stories on fires are pretty much random unexpected occurances so as a result, people can only take the necessary precautions to protect themselves. Aditionally, occurances such as these are very rare.
"Happy News" is a story that is used to end a hard news day on an jovial and pleasent mood. It is a closer that the anchorman uses to avoid the viewer to get too upset by the news reports that he just heard. I found it to be intereting that "happy news" is crowding out "real" news stories and although Americans are receiving more news then ever, they are becoming less informed.
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