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hen Allan Stuart reaffirmed that news from the streets would be favorable, I should have just agreed. Since it is disappointing to prove that, to some extent, mass media has succumbed to the public'€™s preferences in news coverage. It was a pity to discover that readers and downloaders prefer to peruse bombastic headings with shallow content and popular words. It was inevitable to observe that audiences prefer to discern less informative broadcasted shows. However, the ultimate poignant fact I witnessed was that the press and many of its relatives chose to perpetuate the preferences by keeping publishing similar news content.

Then, where is the honor of noble intentions to professionalize tiding into journalism back in the 18th century? Has journalism been lost, too far away in the public'€™s moral decay throughout the times? Will it be mere frolic, scandal, satire and felony that will be newsworthy? With the advent of citizen journalism where everyone can be journalist, it is an affirmation that journalism will be losing tract. Later in the future, media will emerge just as a punctual editor rather than newscaster since what matters is what will be absorbed by the public. Virtue, culture, history and all '€œhigh-end information'€ will be less imparted or even suppressed. The public, in both seeking and absorbing news, might always be allowed to rely on their basic instinct: human nature that potentially diverges them into three fractions.

The first fraction is a group that prefers to unfold the papers, which disclose felonies and misdemeanors. Human nature permits bad habits. However, ever since morals prevailed as control, humans must have retained their instincts. Subsequently that induced a profound longing to come back to a primordial level of civilization where they can behave without judgment. Thus scandals, murders, assault or defamation are the most anticipated news for this group as it tickles their curiosity.

The next group who won second place to suppress media coverage into the public'€™s preference was the one who misled denial. In his book Inferno, Dan Brown cited that denial is a critical human coping mechanism. Though it'€™s quoted in the novel but simultaneously in neuroscience and human biological development, denial has been discussed as an ability that encourages human to survive against evolution. All efforts mankind performs to protect future generations, to preserve the environment and to develop technologies were endeavors to deny mortality. Nevertheless, what is happening with denial today was misled by some members of the public who refuse self-awareness and indulge their penchant to stay in a comfort zone.

Then, the last sphere was people who were ungrateful with God'€™s design. This group was a bunch of people who would share or impart information to their like-minded fellows about how God was misunderstanding their identities. Seeking protection in handmade covenants and a bill of rights, they demanded their freedom to fight against the ultimate law of mankind. They utilized the slogan of human nature or freedom to justify deviation.

Hence, it was not surprising when subversive movements, communities, or forums were crowded and their actions were gradually exposed in public. A story of an individual who got through a personality transition is mostly highlighted on the first page. My involvement in the CNN iReport community indicated that blasphemy stories or transgender experiences were mostly shared or approved by visitors.

Indeed, this is how the media world revolves along with the fractions. The remaining virtue of mankind will probably be deemed as unbecoming news to read. Cultures and education will be skipped out as a long and boring passage. Humans, after their triumph in smashing barriers and performing as advanced vertebrates, will just let their brains die from their instincts that serve ephemeral excitement.

Andi Juliastri Syafruddin
Jakarta