Media Bias in Reporting: The World’s Progress vs. Negative News

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Most people believe the present millennium is only getting worse than previous millennia. With the constant bombardment of saddening news such as xenophobia, deskilling, recessions, structural unemployment, dictatorship, social unrest, and terrorism, fewer individuals see the progress happening worldwide. A survey done in the US and Sweden shows that only 6% and 10% of respondents thought the world was improving (Denning, 2017). When analyzing the significant facets that determine human well-being, that is, in education, freedom, health, literacy, and poverty, the world is becoming more just and more respectful of human liberties.

Tremendous progress has been achieved in decreasing abject poverty in the past 50 years. Some nations which are currently wealthy were impoverished some decades back. Only a fortunate minority were not languishing in terrible poverty two centuries ago. Despite all of the industrialization’s flaws, rising productivity enabled a steady increase in the number of people lifted out of abject poverty. Initially, improvement was gradual: 75% of the world’s population was surviving in absolute poverty around 1950 (Denning, 2017). However, individuals living in absolute poverty currently account for fewer than 10% of the population (Denning, 2017). This is a remarkable feat, especially given that the world’s population has surged seven times in the past 200 years. Enough food, finer clothing, decent housing, and indoor plumbing became available.

Health progress is also astounding. Over 40% of the world’s infants perished before the turn of five years in 1800 (Denning, 2017). Only a small percentage of children today pass away before the five-year age. Contemporary medicine, notably germs discovery aided, but changes in housing, hygiene, and food were much more essential.

Political liberty has also advanced. Given the rise of populist politicians and autocrats throughout the globe, it is tempting to overlook the progress in creating civil liberties and political freedoms, which are both a way to and a culmination to development. Liberty is notably difficult to quantify, and a democracy index is considered the least challenging indicator that gives a long-term view of liberty. Practically everybody in the nineteenth century existed in authoritarian controlled states. More than half of the countries in the world are democratic.

All of these achievements were made possible by advances in education and knowledge, as education is improving worldwide (Ferguson, 1988). With the worldwide fertility dropping, experts estimate the number of infants will fall over time – never will there be more infants on the globe than in this era. The world population is anticipated to climax in 2070 and then drop (Denning, 2017). This prognosis is quite optimistic, given the critical role of education in enhancing healthcare, expanding political liberties, and eradicating poverty.

It is strange that in a society where education and knowledge are significantly advancing, there is pervasive dismal ignorance regarding the world’s improving situation (Ferguson, 1988). Part of the fault falls on the media. The media does not inform its audiences about how society is evolving; rather, it informs people about where the globe is doing poorly. It tends to fixate on specific events, especially those that have gone wrong. On the other hand, improvements occur gradually, with no one event to highlight in the news. Consequently, most individuals are unaware of how the situation of society has changed.

Unfortunately, the media does not adequately inform its audiences about how the world is gradually improving. This lack of awareness can be attributed to the media’s fixation on negative events rather than the slow and steady improvements made over time. Education, healthcare, political liberties, and poverty standards are progressing, yet many individuals remain ignorant of the world’s overall advancement due to the media’s focus on negativity.