My local news ran a story about a 'controversial' new park statue, but the only angry quote came from a guy who lives two states over.

Checked the city council minutes and the vote was unanimous, with zero public complaints filed. How does a non-issue like that even become a headline?

4 comments

4 Comments

abby_martinez2mo agoMost Upvoted

They must have a quota for fake outrage to fill. Find one random guy online and call it a controversy. Journalism is just making stuff up now.

nathankim7d ago

Got a buddy who works for a small local paper. He told me his editor literally had them run a story about a guy who complained about a park bench being too close to a tree. They framed it as a public safety debate. My friend was like, why are we doing this? Editor said it drives clicks from people arguing in the comments. So yeah, they just plant a stupid controversy and watch the traffic roll in. It's depressing but it works for them.

shanec612mo ago

My own outrage quota is dangerously low this month, gotta step it up.

grant1552mo ago

Right? The "fake outrage quota" thing is so real. My town paper did the same bit last month over a new bike lane. Their one angry source was a guy who doesn't even own a bike.