EFFECTS OF UPBEAT STORIES IN BROADCAST NEWS

This study examines the effects of upbeat news items on the assessment of the severity of the issues presented in hard-news reports. The exp erimental newscast ended either without an additional item, with a hum an-interest story, or with a humorous story. Respondents rated the sev erity of the issues addressed and the extent to which the issues might affect them personally. The humorous newscast-closing story, but not the human-interest story, led respondents to evaluate the issues as le ss severe. Assessments of personal vulnerability were not appreciably influenced by these newscast-closing upbeat stories, however.