The News

Behind every mundane news headline lies a remarkable story about humanity—full of passion, power, and ambition. So why does the news feel so unengaging?

1. The Lack of Context Disconnects Readers From Political News

When complex political headlines lack context, many readers feel alienated. They encounter obscure topics that seem unimportant or overly complicated without frameworks to highlight their relevance. For example, a bland headline like “Tenant’s rent arrears had risen during a pilot benefit scheme” doesn’t immediately grab attention.

News stories often fail to frame issues in a relatable, digestible way. This results in missed opportunities to engage readers by showcasing broader implications or human perspectives. Without context, even readers who want to stay informed feel distanced from important issues.

For instance, a headline explaining why housing benefits reform affected people’s ability to pay rent could explore themes of social welfare, human struggle, and policy impacts. This would spark curiosity and help readers see how such changes fit into larger societal challenges.

Examples

• A bland BBC headline on rent arrears failed to engage readers with its deeper meaning.
• Political analysis often assumes pre-existing knowledge, alienating casual readers.
• Novels like Anna Karenina demonstrate how context gives emotional depth and meaning to stories.

2. World News Misses the Universal Threads That Captivate Us

It’s not that people don’t care about global events—they find the presentation uninspiring. World news often focuses on peripheral details while ignoring universal human themes such as morality, friendship, and leadership.

Consider this: people are fascinated by Shakespeare's political dramas, like Julius Caesar, not because of the historical politics, but because they spark reflections on timeless struggles. Similarly, global stories lose their potential when human values aren't emphasized.

Rather than listing statistics or narrating procedural chaos, presenting a story about betrayal, hope, or resilience could engage a wider audience. By linking global stories to shared experiences, news can become as enthralling as theater.

Examples

• Shakespeare dramatized human dilemmas while grounding them in historical contexts.
• Political stories from Italy or elsewhere can mirror moral struggles like those in Julius Caesar.
• People connect better to universal questions than to geopolitical minutiae.

3. Economic News Is Written Solely for Specialists

Economic news alienates mainstream audiences because it’s designed for investors. Financial reports often drown a fascinating narrative in obtuse jargon. Headlines talk about “price-to-book ratios” instead of the human impact behind market trends.

Every economic figure has a background story, but business pages rarely explore it. For instance, behind Sharp Corporation’s falling profits lies the tale of workers in Japan who are overworked and poorly paid. These stories add depth and emotional weight.

By spotlighting human lives affected by financial maneuvers, economic news could become relatable and compelling for ordinary readers, expanding its reach beyond Wall Street insiders.

Examples

• Sharp electronics’ downfall revealed issues around labor exploitation and corporate hubris.
• Economic articles on rare metals like niobium miss out on human-interest storytelling opportunities.
• Cryptic jargon turns away general readers who might care about real-world consequences.

4. Celebrity News Could Inspire Us If It Highlighted Virtue

Celebrity news prioritizes scandals and mundane trivia over stories of greatness. Yet, throughout history, admiration of remarkable individuals has been a way for people to strive for excellence.

The Greeks admired their leaders and athletes for virtues they embodied, such as honesty and discipline. Similarly, stories about saints were meant to inspire ethical living. Modern celebrity culture retains this potential but often squanders it with meaningless details.

When focus shifts from bad behavior to admirable qualities, we’re reminded that celebrities can influence us positively. Emma Watson’s advocacy for gender equality, for example, deserves more coverage than her grocery shopping habits.

Examples

• Ancient Greece revered virtuous people as models for personal growth.
• Catholic saints were celebrated for their patience and generosity.
• Positive stories, like Emma Watson’s gender advocacy, are often overshadowed by gossip.

5. Crime News Ignores Complexity and Focuses on Judgement

Crime reporting often skips the deeper moral lessons that tragedies can offer. Instead of humanizing people who commit crimes, the news usually frames them as monsters, leaving no room for understanding human flaws.

Take the example of a doctor found guilty of possessing illegal images. While his actions were reprehensible, the story ignored the complexity of his situation, such as his descent into isolation and subsequent suicide attempt. This lack of empathy missed an opportunity for readers to reflect on societal issues like mental health.

Stories that explore motives and consequences behind crimes could foster deeper societal understanding rather than just rally condemnation.

Examples

• Aristotle saw tragedy as a moral and emotional learning tool.
• Oedipus Rex achieves empathy for its tragic hero by showcasing his unintentional misdeeds.
• A BBC crime article failed to humanize a doctor whose life unraveled after his crime.

6. Consumerism Reflects Our Quest for Meaning

Consumerism isn’t simply about indulgence; it’s often driven by our search for self-improvement or identity. Products symbolize qualities we aspire to, like calmness, playfulness, or simplicity.

From a Zen-inspired tea set to boutique hotel stays, items can serve as tools for self-reflection. Material possessions often represent deeper values, such as comfort or adventure. For example, a beautifully described dish in a restaurant review symbolizes an ideal of simplicity and connection to nature rather than just a meal.

Consumer news could shift focus from products to the emotions and ideals they represent, reframing our relationship with material goods.

Examples

• Zen Buddhism’s celadon pottery symbolizes humility and balance.
• Restaurant reviews often depict food as symbols of lifestyle rather than sustenance.
• Hotel reviews capture aspirations for tranquility and well-being.

7. Personalized News Risks Narrowing Our Worldview

Customizing news content might seem appealing, but it can limit our perspectives. Readers who filter topics can easily create echo chambers that reinforce existing opinions or avoid uncomfortable truths.

For instance, ignoring tragic stories might shield someone from heartbreak, but it also denies them the chance to understand and empathize with others. Similarly, overexposure to uplifting news may disconnect people from global crises that need attention.

Striking a balance is key. Readers should seek diverse stories that challenge their thinking while maintaining mental well-being.

Examples

• Over-customization risks exposure only to news supporting pre-existing beliefs.
• Avoidance of troubling topics denies opportunities for growth and understanding.
• Excessive focus on feel-good topics can foster an overly idealistic worldview.

8. Headlines Can Alter How Stories Are Perceived

The phrasing of a news headline can either engage or repel readers. Studies show that emotionally evocative language makes stories more compelling, but too much sensation can feel manipulative.

Poorly worded headlines, such as dry political statements, fail to communicate stakes or urgency effectively. Conversely, a headline that taps into universal themes like justice or ambition draws broader interest.

By focusing on visual, emotional, and moral cues, news can make even the densest topics accessible to a wider audience.

Examples

• A headline on housing benefits reform seemed irrelevant without human context.
• Sensationalized headlines generate clicks but undermine credibility.
• Emotional engagement depends on relatable and vivid framing.

9. News Holds Power Beyond Its Surface Value

At its best, news reveals powerful stories hidden behind the surface. Every statistic and event encapsulates lives, emotions, and decisions that define our collective humanity.

Properly presented, even the bleakest topics—from economic graphs to distant wars—can resonate by showcasing their underlying stories of perseverance or downfall. News should remind us what it means to be human, connecting our shared experiences.

Transforming the dull into the inspiring starts with reframing how we see and tell these stories. The results could lead to a more informed and empathetic society.

Examples

• Economic downturns are human struggles, not just numbers on a chart.
• World conflicts touch universal themes relevant to everyone.
• Crime stories have complex moral questions that transcend condemnation.

Takeaways

1. Seek perspectives beyond your preferences—read sections of the news you’d typically ignore to broaden your view.
2. Challenge headlines by asking what universal value or human story lies beneath them.
3. While consuming news, reflect on empathy and complexity over superficial judgment or references.