* To attract attention: Sensational headlines and stories are more likely to grab people's attention than more sober or factual reporting. This can lead to increased viewership, readership, or clicks, which can generate more advertising revenue.
* To sell papers or drive traffic: sensational headlines can help sell papers or drive traffic to websites, which can increase revenue.
* To influence public opinion: The media can use sensationalism to shape public opinion on certain issues. This can be done by highlighting certain aspects of an issue while ignoring others, or by using emotive language to create a sense of urgency or outrage.
* To create a sense of excitement or fear: Sensationalism can be used to create a sense of excitement or fear, which can keep people coming back for more.
* To create conflict: Sensationalism can be used to create conflict between different groups of people, which can further divide the public and make it more difficult for them to find common ground.
Sensationalism can have a number of negative consequences, including:
* It can distort the truth and mislead the public.
* It can create unnecessary fear and anxiety.
* It can divide the public and make it more difficult to find common ground.
* It can undermine the public's trust in the media.
It is important to be aware of the potential dangers of sensationalism and to be critical of the media's reporting.