Discuss the story of ‘what goes as a sensational story’. A sensational story is one that is designed to grab attention and generate a strong emotional response in the audience. These types of stories often involve elements of shock, scandal, or conflict, and are often used in the media to boost viewership or readership.
One example of a sensational story is the O.J. Simpson murder trial in the 1990s. The trial was heavily covered by the media and captivated the public’s attention due to the high-profile nature of the accused, O.J. Simpson, a former NFL star, and the brutal nature of the crime. The trial also had an element of race, as Simpson was a black man accused of killing his white wife, which added an extra layer of tension and media coverage.
Another example is the story of the “Central Park Five” in the 1980s, where five young black and Latino men were falsely convicted of raping a white woman in Central Park, New York City. The story was sensationalized in the media, with the suspects being portrayed as violent criminals, despite a lack of evidence. They were later exonerated by DNA evidence, but the story had already caused significant damage to their reputations and lives.
Sensational stories can have negative effects on the people involved and also on the public perception and understanding of the issue. It is important for the media to be responsible and ethical in their reporting, and to avoid sensationalizing stories at the expense of accuracy and fairness.