What could a psychologist add to modern media?

News Outlets and the Impact of Repetitive and Sensational Coverage

What do news outlets such as Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN have in common? Besides a recent predilection for sensational topics, journalists often recycle stories from traditional media like newspapers. This redundancy results in nearly 85% of news stories being repetitious and providing little to no new information. What are the emotional consequences of this phenomenon, particularly when it comes to viewers witnessing repeated acts of violence? And, perhaps more importantly, is there a way for people to avoid the emotional harm?

Now, let’s suppose a psychologist were part of the newsroom.

We have been bombarded with the tragic and brutal deaths of innocent people through news outlets and social media. The fatal incident involving Eric Garner, where he uttered the words “I can’t breathe” before he was murdered by police officers, was aired on repeat on nearly every news channel and social media platform. While studies have indicated that experiences of racial discrimination and posttraumatic stress symptoms are connected, the media and their respective social media pages continue to present the news without regard for its effects on viewers. Since Garner’s death, a video has surfaced almost every time there has been a police-involved shooting.

As psychologists, we understand the impact of trauma on the human psyche. People who experience trauma often suffer from feelings of loss, leading to sadness, loneliness, and apathy. It can also result in riskier behaviors such as smoking, substance use, and other lifestyle habits. So, what does it mean for future generations when they are consistently exposed to traumatic events? How can we help individuals who are struggling with existential questions like “What’s the point?”

The constant stream of violent headlines can easily lead to feelings of being overwhelmed. Could we all be experiencing vicarious trauma because of the lack of intentional and respectful distribution of news? Olga Phoenix, a trauma expert, has linked vicarious trauma to “ongoing exposure to traumatic events” such as news or social media coverage of police brutality, mass shootings, and the COVID-19 death toll tracker. Phoenix argues that “traumatic material then accumulates and begins to impact us cumulatively, like a snowball thrown on the top of the mountain that eventually becomes an avalanche.” Some researchers have even identified a correlation between social media use and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The American Psychological Association has admitted its failure to challenge racism, racial discrimination, and human hierarchy in the United States. From a preventative standpoint, wouldn’t it be great to have news viewed through a psychologist’s lens? Imagine having a trained and compassionate perspective to frame narratives and reduce the intake of traumatic information in situations like school shootings or police-involved deaths. Imagine a world where there is someone with the general public’s mental wellbeing in mind. Is it possible to cover these issues without sensationalism while establishing boundaries? Having psychology consultants in newsrooms, tech companies, and television networks could help us move forward. It is understandable that there may be some reluctance to infiltrate spaces where psychologists have not traditionally ventured. However, integrating psychologists into news coverage could result in more psychologically-minded and less traumatic news. Reframing the approach to news could reduce its negative impact on viewers.

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