In recent years, the news mostly reports tragedies and emergencies instead of positive events. I largely agree that excessive emphasis on problems and emergencies can be harmful to both individuals and society as it cultivates fear, pessimism and social distrust. However, the solution is not to suppress negative news but to improve its balance.

One of the problems that arises from relentless emphasis on negative news is a distorted perception of reality. Constant exposure to distressing headlines may create the illusion that society is collapsing, even though when many indicators – life expectancy, literacy, or technological progress – continue to improve. This distorted worldview can fuel chronic anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and a sense of helplessness. For example, researchers have repeatedly observed that people who consume large amounts of crisis-oriented news often overestimate the likelihood of becoming victims of crime or even terrorism, highlighting how dangerous excessive exposure to negative news is.

The consequences extend beyond individual psychology. When negativity dominates public discourse, polarization frequently intensifies. Citizens begin to view opponents, immigrants, or unfamiliar communities through the lens of isolated incidents rather than broader evidence. Persistent negative reporting can also undermine social cohesion. If corruption, violence, and failure appear to be everywhere, people may lose faith in democratic institutions and conclude that concerted action is unnecessary. This constant exposure discourages civic participation, volunteering, and long-term investment in communities.

However, the solution lies in finding the perfect balance. Instead of ignoring the negative news altogether, both positive and negative news should be reported in parallel. Investigative reporting has unraveled corporate fraud, government corruption, environmental crimes, and human rights abuses that might otherwise have remained out of sight. Were negative news to remain hidden, we would have never predicted catastrophic disasters, for example. Society deserves to know about corruption, violence, disasters, and injustice, but it also deserves to hear about medical breakthroughs, educational achievements, and acts of extraordinary generosity. Thus, healthy journalism should strive for proportionality rather than sensationalism.

In conclusion, I contend that an excessive focus on problems and emergencies does have a negative influence on both individuals and society, as it develops more fear, pessimism, and faith loss in society. However, focus should be on both, negative and positive news, as one tells us what is wrong with the world, and what can be done about it, and where genuine progress is already taking place.

Passage: By itself information is valueless - its value comes from its use