FULL SPECTRUM CULTURE

It is the one great weakness of journalism as a picture of our modern existence, that it must be a picture made up entirely of exceptions. We announce on flaring posters that a man has fallen off a scaffolding. We do not announce on flaring posters that a man has not fallen off a scaffolding. Yet this latter fact is fundamentally more exciting, as indicating that that moving tower of terror and mystery, a man, is still abroad upon the earth. That the man has nott fallen off a scaffolding is really more sensational; and it is also some thousand times more common. But journalism cannot reasonable be expected thus to insist upon the permanent miracles. Busy editors cannot be expected to put on their posters, “Mr. Wilkinson Still Safe,” or “Mr. Jones, of Worthing, Not Dead Yet.” They cannot announce the happiness of mankind at all. They connot describe all the forks that are not stolen, or all the marriages that are not judiciously dissolved. Hence the complete picture they give of life is of necessity fallacious; they can only represent what is unusual. However democratic they may be, they are only concerned with the minority.

[From "The Ball and the Cross" by G.K. Chesterton.] GKC pegged what we know as the “mainstream media” about 100 years ago. Judging by personal experience so far, it seems like internet media usually adheres to the same. But if it remains free and open to everyone, with minimal startup cost or lead-time, then it could be that “Busy editors” can be expected to put on their posters, “Mr. Wilkinson Still Safe,” or “Mr. Jones, of Worthing, Not Dead Yet.” Perhaps they can announce the happiness of mankind after all. Or maybe not; bad news could just be more quickly and minutely available, and what Chesterton points out could be even more true than before.