Studies show we pay 10 times more attention to negative news than to positive news and the media knows it. Newspapers, cable news shows, websites and blogs have a 17-to-1 ratio of negative stories to positive ones. Negative stories are far more likely to be viewed and shared with others and a larger viewership means more advertising money and bigger profits. As a result, the media keeps people anxious, angry and afraid.
Human ingenuity, technological innovation and capital markets create enormous progress over time, lengthening our lives and improving our standard of living. Things are getting better for most people in most places in most ways. May be not for everyone, but generally, people around the world are living longer, safer, richer, freer lives than ever before.
Sven Franssen