The Fourth Estate in Crisis: Who Holds the Media Accountable?

Outrage sells—but at what cost to democracy?

The news is everywhere, all the time. From breaking headlines on our phones to 24-hour cable news shows, it feels impossible to escape the constant hum of information. But while the role of the media is to keep us informed and hold the powerful accountable, today’s news cycle often feels more like a source of stress than enlightenment.

Why does it feel this way? Because much of modern media isn’t just informing us—it’s enraging us. In this week’s episode of Outrage Overload, I sit down with Andrew Selepak, a media scholar who specializes in political communication and social media. Together, we unpack the “outrage machine” that dominates today’s news landscape and explore how it’s shaping not just our media consumption, but our culture, mental health, and democracy.

The Rise of the Outrage Economy

It’s no secret that media outlets profit from attention. With advertising dollars tied to clicks, views, and shares, sensationalism has become the name of the game. Selepak points out that anger and fear are particularly effective at grabbing and holding our attention. By framing nearly every story as a crisis or a moral outrage, the media keeps us glued to our screens—but at a cost.

“Outrage is addictive,” Selepak explains. “But it also leaves people feeling angry, anxious, and powerless.” Trust in media has plummeted to historic lows, with only 32% of Americans expressing confidence in news outlets to report fairly, according to a Gallup poll. Meanwhile, audiences are shrinking. Even during major global events like the Israel-Hamas conflict, viewership at major networks is surprisingly low.

Living in Echo Chambers

Compounding the problem is how we consume news today. Social media algorithms and partisan outlets create echo chambers that reinforce our beliefs while isolating us from opposing perspectives. In these bubbles, Selepak argues, we’re not just disagreeing on issues; we’re living in entirely different realities.

This fragmentation of truth has real consequences. When one side views the other as not just wrong but evil, compromise becomes impossible. “The outrage machine doesn’t just divide us,” Selepak says. “It makes us incapable of understanding each other.”

The Loss of Solutions

A particularly troubling aspect of today’s media landscape is the lack of solutions offered alongside the problems. Stories are designed to shock and provoke, but rarely do they provide actionable steps for audiences.

Selepak likens it to being shown a house on fire but never being handed a hose. “The media tells us everything is broken,” he says, “but then leaves us with no tools to fix it.” This sense of helplessness can deepen public frustration and, in some cases, lead to protests, riots, and even violence.

What Can Be Done?

While the situation might seem bleak, there are ways forward. Selepak argues that audiences and media alike have roles to play in breaking the cycle of outrage.

For audiences, he suggests seeking out more centrist or balanced news sources. While challenging at first, engaging with different perspectives can help broaden understanding and reduce the intensity of partisan anger.

For the media, Selepak believes it’s time to move beyond the outrage economy and start offering real, actionable solutions. Whether it’s encouraging civic engagement or highlighting community-level efforts, news outlets can shift their focus from doomscrolling to empowerment.

Why This Matters

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Without a functioning Fourth Estate to hold power accountable and keep the public informed, our democracy itself is at risk. “The media’s role isn’t just to report the news—it’s to help us make sense of it,” Selepak says.

This episode isn’t just about pointing fingers. It’s about understanding how we’ve arrived at this point and what we can do to demand better. From the influence of social media to the erosion of investigative journalism, we cover it all in this conversation.

So, whether you’re frustrated with the state of the news or simply curious about how it all works, this episode is a must-listen. Let’s start building a media landscape that informs and empowers rather than divides and enrages.

👉 Click here to listen to the full episode

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NaPodPoMo Continues

The November challenge to produce and publish 30 episodes in the month of November - NaPodPoMo (National Podcast Post Month) continues. We are winding up Week 3, Technology Outrage running November 15-21, when we go into Week 4, Moving Forward starting Friday, November 22 and running through to Thanksgiving.

These episodes are available on a separate companion podcast called Outrage Science Bites, shorter 5-10 minute “bite-sized” episodes, usually covering a specific, more narrow topic.

Here’s one example for a topic that comes up often with listeners, of why facts don’t seem to persuade people:

• The Blind Spot: Why We Think We Have a Monopoly on the Facts

And here’s a recent one from Technology Outrage week you may enjoy:

• The Evolution of Online Communities

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New This Week in Outrage Episode!

It’s everything the Outrage Overload podcast is not. It’s not edited. It’s not scripted. It’s lightly researched. It’s David and Lisa talking about this week in outrage, what was in the news, in the memes, and maybe finding some backstory with a humorous (at least to us) twist.