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The very definition of news is something that hardly ever…

“The very definition of news is something that hardly ever happens. If an incident is in the news, we shouldn't worry about it. It's when something is so common that its no longer news - car crashes, domestic violence - that we should worry.” quote by Bruce Schneier
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“The very definition of news is something that hardly ever happens. If an incident is in the news, we shouldn't worry about it. It's when something is so common that its no longer news - car crashes, domestic violence - that we should worry.”

Bruce Schneier

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

News should cover rare events; common occurrences like car crashes become background noise and deserve less attention.

In simple terms: Rare events are newsworthy, common ones are not.

Key Takeaway

Focus media on truly unusual stories.

Themes

media news values information overload

Mood

critical analytical

Type

commentary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • emergency alerts
  • policy debates
  • social media trends
  • public safety campaigns

Key Concepts

newsworthiness frequency bias public perception

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we balance coverage of rare vs. common events?
  • What criteria should define newsworthiness?
A Different Perspective

Ignoring frequent issues can hide systemic problems.

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