Responsible Headlines

Sensational emotionally charged headlines may move papers, but some are realizing they can have far reaching consequences.

In a New York Times article earlier this week called “Amid Turmoil, Some Try to Tone Down Emotion” Richard Perez-Pena discusses that many news papers are avoiding some words during this economic situation. Among the words on the do not use list are

CRASH, MELTDOWN, and APOCALYPSE.

the article states the reason for such precautions are because “This year, the media have been accused of contributing to the collapse of both Bear Stearns and IndyMac, a large California thrift, so journalists are more aware of the risk of stoking fear — and the risk of being blamed.”

Although not every newspaper has adopted a new way of valuing the risk factors involved with giant sensational headlines many have.

While fallowing my local paper the Idaho Statesman I was hard pressed to find any of the words accused of causing fear and panic, instead the headlines used words like “turmoil” and “mess” as if this financial problem could in fact be cleaned up. One headline especially stood out to me “Idaho treasurer says state investments are 'safe” perhaps used to even help calm some peoples fears about the this confusing economic situation.

I was happy to realize that the media and especially newspapers are aware of, and are taking steps towards being a responsible help and not hindrance to the public. Especially in a day and age where far too often the media is accused of inciting fear amongst the public it tries to serve.

article link
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/business/media/22press.html