News Channels will Continue ‘Crisis of the Moment’ Coverage to Keep Viewers

Not only will television news channels continue their rise in popularity in 2003, but so will the “crisis of the moment” coverage on cable news channels that reached its height after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, says Dr. Gary Copeland, professor of communication and information sciences at The University of Alabama.

“News channel viewership rises dramatically when there’s a crisis,” Copeland said. “So this generates the notion that everything is a crisis. The number of child kidnappings across the United States actually was down this year from 2001, but you never heard that on the news channels.”

Continually talking about crisis perpetuates the feelings of unease that Americans have. Copeland said that when people feel uneasy they turn to people who will make them feel safe. That’s why there has been a shift to the Fox News Channel from CNN.

He added that the perception of CNN as a liberal station has worked against them with terrorism. “Who wants to hear that suspected terrorists have rights, and they shouldn’t be held in jail without being charged with a crime?” Copeland said. “People want to hear that the police only pick up bad guys, and what’s the problem with being questioned anyway?”

He added that even if today’s unrest didn’t exist, the media still would manufacture crises. It’s all a question of who gets the highest ratings, Copeland said. And higher ratings mean more money for the winning station.

Contact

Chris Bryant, Office of Media Relations, 205/348-8323, cbryant@ur.ua.edu

Dr. Gay Copeland, communication and information sciences, 205/348-6350 (office), 205/752-9566 (home)