(2002-10-23) — Almost 83 percent of journalists fear that Americans aren’t as afraid as they should be, according to a new survey released by the Center for Fostering a Higher Opinion of the Competence of Journalists (CFHCJ).
Despite the relentless coverage of violence and war in recent weeks, most Americans are going about their lives as before — working, playing, eating, going to movies and church.
“Many journalists worry that the message isn’t getting through to the audience,” said a spokesman for CFHCJ. “Despite graphics, video clips, sound bytes and spooky bumper music, people seem unintimidated. U.S. citizens often turn off the TV, put down the paper and skip the news Web sites. Instead they surf to sites that offer ginger-snap cookie recipes or sports scores.”
The spokesman for the Center recommends journalists redouble their efforts to inject the word ‘Fear’ into headlines, since Franklin Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”

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