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No, the mainstream media does not favor bad news over good news. They are oblivious to either. What matters to them is 'what sells'.

It is human psychology to be impacted more by bad news than by good news. Even in our personal lives, we tend to spend endless hours over bad news. We tend to carry around the impact. However, the same is not true for good news. While we may like to share some piece of good news with our friends and relatives but the impact of it does not remain with us for long. Bad news tend to make us think more on the possibility of impact on other areas but good news never makes us think beyond the situation. It is just human nature.

The impact of bad news on mainstream media is also similar. They tend to look at bad news as something that sells more than good news. Look at the coverage of the unfortunate bridge collapse. Ever since, all forms of media have been highlighting the story. There are interviews with experts, debates among city officials etc. etc. During this period whatever good news there is will be reported in a corner of the newspaper or much later in the news bulletin on TV. This does not mean that media is doing it intentionally. What they are doing is giving interesting news first. While this is deliberate it is only delivering what readers/viewers are willing to pay for.

All the news about Paris Hilton. Is that good news or bad news? Depends on whose side you are on. But media went all over itself over the coverage. While it is the media that had gone overboard but to be fair to them they only dished out what was palatable to the general public at large. If people like us ignored Paris then the media would have done the same also.

It is a bit unfair to put the entire blame on the media. They do whatever they can to sell for at the end of the day, it is all about money - honey!

Learn more about this author, Saurabh Pal.
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