It's just the way human beings work. We all slow down to rubberneck at a crash scene, even as we moan about everybody else doing the same thing. We're drawn to stories of violence and tragedy, even if we feel guilty about it later.
Fortunately, it's not all just ghoulish voyeurism. There is also some genuine social worth in covering awful events, because talking about and examining these events is the only way we're ever going to stop them happening again. As interested as we all are, we still don't want it to happen again, and anything we can learn about the event to prevent a re-occurrence is vital.
And while many social media loudmouths think journalists are scum who are only interested in the horrible side of things, we do actually love doing stories about the lighter side of life - stories of rescue and perseverance and good people doing good things.
There are a number of reasons for this. One is that we're always trying to offer as big a variety of stories as possible, and we need some lightness to break up the goddamn gloom. Some days it's almost unavoidable to fill newspapers and bulletins and websites with terrible events - some afternoons all the gross court stuff comes down at once, or there are some awful crashes on our roads, or some mass shooting overseas - and editors will be desperate for something to break up the grimness. It just creates a better overall product, and reminds everybody that the whole world isn't completely shit all of the time, no matter how much it can feel that way.
Another reason is that we're goddamn human beings and it can be genuinely difficult to deal with some of the shit that slides across our desks - we have to go through photos of terrible disasters to make sure we're not accidentally posting something upsettingly gory, we have to deal with endless stories of grief in the wake of natural catastrophes. We don't want to spend all day on the dark side, and want to cover the good stuff too.
Just like everybody else, journos - even those accused of being the most superficial - are people with actual feelings and empathy and sorrow. As cynical as we can get, we desperately want to know that there is good in the world, and share it, in some bid to offset all the drama.
If you want to see proof, go back and look at the goofy grins on the reporters who covered the PM's pregnancy and birth - hard-nosed and hard-bitten journos who we're used to seeing scowling in the background were all over that.
Fortunately, while the world in general remains vast and uncaring, there are some stories of hope - as well as the PM's baby, there are things like the missing Thai teenagers who were found alive in a flooded cave, nine days after they vanished. Another grim story of tragedy, suddenly became one full of hope and optimism. While they face a huge task to still get them all out at this stage, we're all desperately hoping for that happy ending.
After all, the rescue of the Chilean miners in 2010 was far more engrossing and goddamn uplifting than all the other tragic mine accidents that strike every year. We all want to see those kids out on the football field in the sun again. It's good news, and makes for a far greater story of adversity and persistence.
The local media outfits are after that positive rush, even as they lead the news with something tragic. TVNZ has been running its Good Sorts segments for years now, highlighting monumental acts of decency and kindness around the country, and the NZ Herald, which has always willing to make things as literal as possible, has even started labelling some of its stories as unashamed good news.
Sometimes it feels like we just need to have some good news for once. The end consumer might lament the lack of it, but the people behind the headlines need it even more.
- Margaret Tempest
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