2022-08-18
47 分钟Breaking news! Sources say American journalism exploits our negativity bias to maximize profits, and social media algorithms add fuel to the fire. Stephen Dubner investigates.
Hey there, it's Steven Dubner.
For the past couple weeks, we have been revisiting our series on the unique aspects of american culture, from our rugged individualism to our spirit of competition.
This week, we will ask one more question in this realm, why is us media so negative?
If you'd like to catch up on the rest of the series, or you want to listen to any of our episodes, you can find it all on any podcast app, and our entire archive is also available@freekonomics.com.
along with transcripts and show notes.
As always, thanks for listening.
I'd like you to imagine, and this shouldn't be very hard, but imagine you were in the midst of a growing pandemic.
A 12th fatality has now been reported.
Here in the United States.
Er, doctors saying, we are on the.
Verge of a medical disaster.
And let's say you want to be as informed as possible.
The daily coronavirus death toll in the United States might hit 3000 by early.
June, the coronavirus forcing millions more Americans into virtual lockdown.
This dangerous health crisis could dovetail quickly into a political crisis.
And now, let's say you are an economics professor, watching this news for hours a day.
How does the information you're getting add to your understanding of the pandemic?
I honestly thought I was going crazy.
The economist in question here is Bruce Sacerdot at Dartmouth College.
I'm very utilitarian, and I was looking for useful information, and hence my frustration, because I felt like it was more advertorial and entertainment.