Do news outlets create issues to boost viewership?
Viewership is the lifeblood of TV outlets. This factor is significant, not only in attracting the largest number of advertisers, but also the rate that can be charged for commercials.
Competition is fierce for the advertising dollar. Less than a generation ago, there were only the three broadcast networks. Today, there are numerous cable networks competing in the same Advertising market.
Since ratings are supreme, it is not surprising that news outlets will try anything to boost the number of viewers. One easy method, is to create a poll. The questions in the poll, can be constructed so as to produce whatever result the pollster desires. Even when a poll is honest, the results can be considered news. This news can be used as fodder, by the pundits who can analyze and speculate, hour after hour.
Viewership can also be stimulated, by the choices, of the editor, as to what stories reach the air, and for how long. A cynical adage in the media, is that if it bleeds it leads.
Thus, many of the stories aired have great visual appeal, although meaning little to the country. These include car chases, vehicle wrecks, wildfires, and other natural disasters. In depth discussion of political, economic, and cultural issues is considered boring, and aired Sunday morninng, if at all.
Debates create issues, that are attractive but only if the sound bites are short and not complex. After a debate, analysts can use endless hours to explain what happened, and why.
Ratings are everything, and real news often makes way for the trivial, the vulgar, and the meretricious.
Dick Brooks