Exaggeration in Journalism
“Exaggeration is as essential to journalism as it is to the dramatic art; for the object of journalism is to make events go as far as possible. Thus it is that all journalists are, in the very nature of their calling, alarmists; … Herein they are like little dogs; if anything stirs, they immediately set up a shrill bark.” (Schopenhauer, The Art of Literature)
Schopenhauer’s hyperbole is helpful here. Good journalism is possible, though rare; a partial explanation for its rareness is that it doesn’t sell. But shoddy journalism sells — especially when alarmism is involved — and thus is everywhere for sale.