Why positive news stories are scarce in Nigeria [Pulse Editor's Opinion]

Editors and reporters often get desperate to increase their audience; as the numbers equal the money in media entrepreneurship. But a common media dilemma argues that the media is only a reflection of society; hence, if society is bad, the news headlines tilt to the negative.

Psychologically, we are far more inclined to react to ordinary people doing stupid or bad things. It grabs attention easily, and negativity provokes a deeper and stronger reaction in our brains. And this is not always a bad thing.

Various news frames aim at getting response from citizens; ideally, for the betterment of society. What is obtainable today is the overuse of this media tool for the economic exploitation of media. To have its numbers, the Nigerian media may be overselling bad news.

But on the flip side, we must also credit the society for making it easy for the media to capitalize on bad news; btw society is 'all of us'. We humans in Nigeria are the subjects around which news-worthy events are made manifest. We also are the demand pull for news.

Nigerian leaders and citizens have a duty to create positive events that will have a ripple effect on news content. But the factual wildness remains that we continue to fail in this duty; and the overzealous media hyper-focuses on the negativity we radiate. Take for instance the mushroom blogs that fuel the spread of hate speech between the various fan bases of Big Brother Naija ex-housemates; as well as reporting gruesome remarks by uncouth politicians like Femi Fani-Kayode; all participants in these stories are leaders and citizens...

When you consume negative information, your sympathetic nervous system causes your body to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This is your body's reaction to a crisis. Stressful news can cause you to experience uncomfortable physical symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, depression, and gut problems.

A regular intake of upbeat information will not only make you feel happier and more satisfied, but it also has the potential to decrease the levels of circulating cortisol and its negative impact on your physical condition.

On the external, it can also lead us to miscalculate certain risks, shape our views of public personalities, and possibly influence the health of entire economies.

In reality, most of the resolve efforts should be on the leaders of our society. However, the track record of consistent disappointments is the reason why my solutions are focused on citizens as collective individuals.

Little drops of water, they say, build up a vast ocean. While these solutions may seem insignificant in individual manifestation, as a group it will ignite a fire wild enough to transform the dominance of negativity in the news space.

Here are 10 positive news stories this November...