Television Media Outlets Sensationalizing Issues

Media outlets tend to exaggerate and sensationalize issues to stand out against competitors, attract an audience, and increase their STATS to then increase ad revenue. This paper is presenting research-based material towards why media outlets exaggerate issues and how it continues to happen to us every day. The competition between media outlets roots mostly from ad revenue. Although, is the ad revenue decreasing due to the updates in technology and various media steaming? News broadcasting is not what it was like years ago, we have newer convenient technology that new generations use and will continue to prefer.  

Increase in Ad Revenue  

Ad revenue is one way news channels make money. Therefore, in order to continue their successfulness, they need to achieve high viewership and keep their STATS steady. “Media advertising contributes to a consumer culture that creates needs and raises unrealistic expectations of what is required to be happy or satisfied. Moreover, because the media depend heavily on advertising revenue, advertisers can influence media content” (Schaefer, 2019, p. 120). Television Media outlets continue to sensationalize issues to keep viewers interested and watching for extended periods of time. Viewers will run into an exaggeration of a topic and will want to know more which drives them to continue watching even throughout the commercial breaks and advertisements. The topics these news anchors share are typically what's considered “trending” AKA, what will drive people to watch. The sociological conflict perspective plays a crucial role in the news articles that get aired. News anchors will continue to give their opinion on topics that they know will spark opinionated individuals to generate views and consistency. By doing this, they're reaching a broader crowd and increasing their views and STATS, which will increase their ad revenue.  

Competition in Media  

News broadcasting today has become more saturated than ever. News anchors continue to exaggerate topics and share news that will spark viewers opinions and drive them to continue watching. The presidential debate played a significant role in news ratings this year. With all the opinions and sensationalizing statements, it was difficult to find a media outlet that would just share facts and only facts. “Before the election, Newsmax was not regarded as a formidable competitor to Fox; it was mostly dismissed as one of a handful of wannabe challengers.” (Stelter, 2020). Newsmax continued to sensationalize political topics and show favoritism towards Donald Trump which caused a spike in views. The conflict perspective ties into this topic because whether the audience they have attracted agree or disagree with their opinions and statements, they are using competition tactics to drive in viewers and gain an audience. “But Fox is accustomed to being No. 1 in the 25-54 demo so losing to Newsmax, even for one hour of one day, is a serious shock.” (Stelter, 2020). The competition in news media is causing anchors to sensationalize, opinionate, and exaggerate issues. This issue may have a positive effect on news media, or negative. If news media is losing its viewers, then STATS are decreasing along with ad revenue.  

Media Devices Emerging into New Generations 

The term Hyperconsumerism plays a vital role towards the users of technology today. Hyperconsumerism, The practice of buying more than we need or want, and often more than we can afford; a preoccupation of postmodern consumers (Schaefer, 2019, p.398). This roots mostly from the updated technology that we have access to. “Today, the news media have moved further online.” (Schaefer, 2019, p.119). The statistical reach for potential viewers online is broader than in television. Not only due to the increase of modern technology and its user consumption, but due to covid and the amount of people working online and attending school online. News media sensationalizing issues is quite easy to see when we’re scrolling through Facebook, liking photos on Instagram, or even surfing the web. After seeing news media exaggerating issues, it will drive you to the article. You click to watch a video and there's an ad, this brings us back to ad revenue and hyperconsumerism. Hyperconsumerism is easier for handheld technology users to act on because of the convenience, you can click on an ad and purchase an item with the click of a button. “Over the past decade, new technologies have made new forms of media available to U.S. households. These new technologies have changed people’s viewing and listening habits. People spend a lot of time with the media, more and more of it on the Internet. Media consumers have moved away from television and toward digital images downloaded to their computers and portable devices.” (Schaefer, 2019, p.119). Although the ad revenue earning is remarkably high in regards to news media on television, the amount of user consumption on modern day technology is an additional way for the news media to make money. Therefore, news media is using all platforms to increase ad revenue and viewer STATS. 

Conclusion 

In the end, research proves that the increase and decrease in ad revenue gives reason to why the news media sensationalizes issues. Every research study I stated goes back to the point of ad revenue. It is no secret that news media tries to keep their STATS consistent and growing. News media using the sociological conflict theory to stand out and attract an audience played a significant role in sensationalizing issues. The news media will continue to use competition-based tactics and think back to the statistical factors to try and keep a steady or increasing ad revenue, even if that means sensationalizing and exaggerating issues to bring in views and new audiences. As far as modern-day technology, it seems to have no negative impact on the increase in ad revenue because it offers multiple platforms to expand on which news media has taken advantage of, especially with the technology that the future and current generation has access to. If news media on television is decreasing, they should have no problem delivering news conveniently for people using modern day technology.