Where is this world heading towards? Why do people love to read and discuss bad news more than good news?

Dr Tom Stafford, a Psychologist at the University of Sheffield - UK, has identified that when negatives words like bomb, war or cancer are flashed up in a laboratory experiment; people are more likely to hit the button and respond quicker than when positive words like smile and fun are flashed up.

In Canada, a group of researchers from McGill University set up an experiment to investigate the kind of news that people prefer to read. Dr Stafford reported that a specific website was set up where the participants in this study were asked to select any articles or stories about politics to read.

According to Dr Stafford, the findings of the study were incredibly shocking and disheartening as the “participants often chose articles or stories with a negative tone such as corruption, set-backs, hypocrisy and so on – rather than neutral or positive stories.”

He further noted that “people who were more interested in current affairs and politics were particularly likely to choose the bad news.”

I believe these findings are not different from what we see on Facebook and other social media where stories, audios or videos that have the potential to tarnish people’s reputation receive higher ‘likes’, ‘comments’ or ‘views’ than the otherwise.

On WhatsApp for example, any picture or audio that has an element of embarrassment and disgrace spread faster than a volcanic eruption.

Perhaps, I suspect this explains why “the media concentrate on the bad things in life, rather than the good.”

What kind of world are we living in today - where people, journalists, radio and TV stations have collective hunger to read and discuss the bad things that they hear about others? When will the media start to focus its attention more on discussing, encouraging or promoting people or events that have the potential to transform lives and build a brighter future for vulnerable people?

I think there must be a time where journalists will have a dramatic ‘paradigm shift’ in their mindset. A time where the media will use its power to showcase the good people who exhibit a greater zeal and commitment in serving the people around them and their country as a whole.

I also mean a time in the media history where we will continuously see and read headlines like: ‘Thank God for giving us a compassionate and kindhearted man like Bishop Dr William Wood in our generation’ – news that recognises and appreciates efforts rather than depressing and sabotaging personality.

After working in a law firm and criminal court for 25 years as a Lawyer and Senior Crime Prosecutor, the founder and General Overseer of Wood World Missions & Power Centre Church - UK, Bishop Dr William Wood, decided to resign from his job in order to devote his full time in helping to meet the needs of humanity worldwide.

If someone will offer his entire life to support children, widows and orphans in towns and villages across Africa and also give free legal advice on immigration, marital relationship and other related issues, then I think the social media has a role to play in promoting the charitable works of such a benevolent person; instead of focusing too much on negative stories.

Bishop Dr. William Wood is the Founder and General Overseer of Wood World Missions & Power Centre Church



He is a retired Solicitor- Advocate gives free legal advice on criminal, immigration & other areas of legal related issues including marital relationships. .

He also provides a REFERAL SERVICE where people are referred to other trusted legal advisors who are able to offer truthful legal advice to people in their moments of need.

Dr. Wood also provides MARRIAGE COUNSELLING & DISPUTE RESOLUTION

He is married to Apostle Dr Mercy Wood; and have a son, Gabriel Wood.

By: Nana Danso (Power Centre Radio, UK)