As a journalism student, I was taught through all four years to develop a hatred for the word sensationalism. We were taught that many journalists do it, but we should hold on to what we know is right, when it’s us out there.

Sensationalism - noun. 1. Subject matter, language, or style producing or designed to produce startling or thrilling impressions or to excite and please vulgar taste.

But even before graduating, we attended a seminar with some highly respected journalists as speakers. When asked about something that related to sensationalism, they just said that it could not be helped. After all, they needed viewers.

And at that moment, I and some other aspiring journalists in my batch, came crashing to that sad realization, one that made even more sense after we had graduated.

The media delivers news to people. In order to deliver news, they need to stay on the air. In order to stay on the air, they need sponsors. In order to get sponsors, they need viewers. In order to get viewers, they need to catch their attention. And to do that, they need to sensationalize.

And it doesn’t even stop there. Sensationalizing does more damage than from an ethical standpoint. The more that corruption (albeit truly existent) is highlighted, the more people will believe that there is no hope for their country, and this mindset will affect everything they do. From the way people work, to the crime rate, to the way they vote, and their willingness to cooperate with even the “good guys” in the government.

And that gives the media more stories to cover. Rinse, repeat.

It’s been years, yet my diploma is still rolled up, unclaimed.

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