The current trend in news media is to provide widespread and in-depth coverage on catastrophic and stressful events. When horrific events and mass acts of terrorism occur, news outlets provide moment-to-moment updates on “active scenes,” body counts, and emergency responder activity, often showing graphic images of violence and destruction. Reporters also extensively discuss backgrounds and lives of perpetrators as well as victims. This creates an almost character-like quality to the story, which makes it harder to separate from your average Netflix crime drama.
