In 1993 it was reported that 60% of comments by nonpartisan sources were unfavourable to government and that this was consistent with a long-term trend reflecting a shift from descriptive to interpretative styles of reporting. Another study confirmed that from 1960 to 1990 portrayal of politicians has grown increasingly negative.
Many TV news programmes across the world are biased towards the negative, with an unfair emphasis on conflict, violence and failure. Consequently most viewers, 80% of whom now regard TV news are their primary source of information, are unwittingly conditioned to grow up in a world where success and achievement appear to be much less important than mistakes and failure. The focus is on situations in which things are going wrong, with little attention to situations where things are going well.
Some media negativity is useful. But when informed criticism becomes synonymous with being against a politician, and negativity overwhelms the positive aspect of politics, the news then becomes a barrier between the leadership and the public.