Journalism: Threaten a Good News Quota

Then perhaps England can start to feel good about itself.


Night after night on the TV Evening News we are subjected to a barrage of bad news ranging from murder to redundancy. Virtually every item is depressing, as newsreaders relay a stream of terrifying stories or yawn-inducing social commentaries designed to prove news organisations are in touch with public concerns. The effect is dire, but there is another way.

Newt Gingrich, a Republican presidential candidate with previously little chance of attaining his party's nomination, made a game-changing statement in a recent candidates' debate during the South Carolina Primary when he denounced negative press reporting and was rewarded with a standing ovation. There's a groundswell of popular support for a sea-change in media coverage: positivity must resume.

In New Zealand in 1986, a parliamentary committee recommended a mandatory ten percent local music content on radio stations in an attempt save the domestic entertainment industry. It was followed by a voluntary ten percent quota to offset the threat of legislation. Kiwi popular music thrived and legislation became unnecessary.

A similar ploy could be used in England to force the media to include a minimum of ten (even twenty!) percent positive coverage. We all need uplifting, not least in these difficult times. What about hearing from success stories in industry, in society and in education?

All of us need inspiration, and by relaying tales of success broadcasters and the printed press will encourage enterprise and add thrust to economic and social endeavour.

One thing The Economist newspaper does with persistent clarity is to pinpoint a challenging issue or dilemma and offer solutions or advice. Isn't it about time the remainder of the UK media followed suit? How uplifting it would be to have their in-house experts propose solutions or provide examples of others who have discovered ways of beating problems, rather than - as they tend to do at present - add fuel to the fire of despair by describing dire outcomes and giving airtime or column inches to protagonists or critics.

We should consider writing to the editors, the CEOs and the government to demand change. We need to be encouraged in future.