Selling Fear

It's is strange to note in the news how afraid we are supposed to be?  No matter what newspaper, TV news cast or financial report from Wall Street, the words fear, fearful, afraid, terror or similar descriptions of the mindset of the American people is included in the story.  The journalism industry as a whole for years and for exactly how long I couldn't tell you, but from September of 2001 forward this tactic has become widely used.

It may come as a huge shock to the news industry, but Americans are not afraid as a group.  Yes, you do have those people who are holed up in their house expecting the sky to fall tomorrow morning.  You also have those who aren't holed up, but go about their business each day looking up expecting the sky to fall, these people are few and far between.  Us Americans as a whole go about our business each day doing a good job trying our best to provide whatever service we can for the community and country as a whole and we really aren't afraid of scratching our finger, catching a cold, afraid to drive, afraid to fly or breath.

Would you news people please quit telling us that we are afraid.  The financial community is particularly bad about this process.  An example: "Banking stocks down for fear of backed up drains."  If these people reporting the reasons for these stock being down know so much, why didn't they short the stock the day before and make some money.  However, we know they didn't because we get to read the same foolish stuff the next day by the same people.  They also give the reasons for the stocks being up, too.

You news people are giving the wrong signals to people around the world.  This may come as a shock but a bully will not bully you or punch you if he knows you aren't afraid.  He will be even less likely to bully you if he knows you will track him down and put knots on his head or worse if he hits you.  We Americans respect the power of nature, but walk around afraid?  Sorry, but that isn't most of America.  Start taking those crazy statements about being afraid and fearful out of your news stories.  Report the facts, and if you the reporter happen to be afraid, either keep it to yourself or report it in a editorial, but don't report it as news.

You would increase the circulation of your publications by just doing good reporting of the facts. So as a reminder, fear is not selling very well in America.