You bring up an important point. At the same time, the media is in a precarious codependent position, needing to whip up its readers into an emotional frenzy,

You bring up an important point. At the same time, the media is in a precarious codependent position, needing to whip up its readers into an emotional frenzy, simply to stay alive. It's as if a sentient cortisol dispenser were plugged into many humans, and its own incentive system measured "how animated are the people recieving my services".