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Using generalizations when characterizing a group or entity can be helpful, even if the generalization is just that (true in most cases, but not every case). In this case, I think we do all agree that "the media" very often overhypes fear -- because they have a financial incentive to do so.

It's not a single unified hive mind, just the incentives are aligned to make the most of fear mongering and make the least of educating the populace on the real meat of the issues at hand.

You're engaging in the same sort of "fearmongering" though, by lumping everything together as if they all have the same incentives and goals.

Depending on which part of "the media" you look at, you'll get very different takes on various issues, some with significantly more substance behind them than others.

Greedy corporations bad, except the news media ;)

The Atlantic has a yearly revenue of $75m.