Our clients ask us all the time why certain news items make consistent headlines while some story ideas can’t even get a return phone call from a reporter.
Often, management in media companies say “we give people what they want.” Others explain that “sensational” news is easier and cheaper to cover – so that’s why it dominates.
Now, scientists are actually taking a look at this. Here’s a link to a new blog entry that begins to explore whether we, as humans, are actually “wired” to like “sensational” news, no matter what.