News coverage refers to the information published in newspapers or broadcast on radio and television about events in a country or in a region. It is often heavily edited by news or sub-editors (in the United States) or by a news desk, which determines the focus or emphasis and also decides on the headline.
The media is a powerful tool for holding governments accountable and providing citizens with critical information. It is also a huge influence on how we see the world around us, including important international events such as war and conflict.
This can be a positive thing, but it can also have negative consequences. Negative news has the power to raise our stress levels – even if we haven’t lost loved ones or been directly affected by an event. One study showed that people exposed to high levels of news about the 9/11 attacks were more likely to experience health problems years later than those who hadn’t watched much news about it.
Framing – the way a story is organised – can also have an impact on how we react to it. For example, if journalists ‘episodic frame’ an issue such as increasing homelessness by reporting only the latest statistics and interviewing homeless people, it may leave you feeling disempowered and disconnected from those struggling. But if they take a ‘thematic’ approach to the issue, examining the reasons people become homeless and exploring ways cities are trying to tackle the problem, this can generate more sympathy and a sense of connection.
About the Author
