The media amplifies anxiety, and then offer programming that offers relief from that anxiety.
It’s been shown repeatedly that watching TV increases the perception that other places, particularly cities, are far more dangerous than they are.
The media likes events and circuses and bowl games, because they have a beginning and an ending, and because they can be programmed and promoted. They invite us into the situation room, alarm us with breaking news and then effortlessly move onto the next crisis.
They train us to expect quick and neat resolutions to problems, because those are easier to sell.
They push us to think short-term, to care about now and not later.
And now they’re being gamed at their own game, because the artificial scarcity that was created by the FCC has been replaced by a surplus and a race to the bottom, with no gatekeepers and with plenty of advertisers willing to pay for any shred of attention.
Intellectual pursuits don’t align with the options that media would rather have us care about.
It’s a good read. Reduce your daily media intake. Read articles on how to make some stuff you were wondering about. Avoid the fuck outta Twitter. Read about the transfer of that player to that other team.
And don’t forget about your local life.