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News outlets, newspapers, news channels, etc., often sensationalize certain events or stories. Sensationalism encourages biased or emotional statements to get specific reactions from audiences. This means some major events are not reported with neutrality. The ‘80s were full of major events that had significant impacts on society in many ways, and to some extent, the way these events were reported may have played a role in their impact. These are 15 news stories from the ‘80s that would be seen as sensationalized by modern standards:
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John Lennon’s death
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The end of the first year of the decade was marked by tragedy when one of the biggest names in the music industry was shot in New York. John Lennon met with an untimely end when a fan gunned down the musician. This death shocked the whole world, and the reports made by news outlets all over the world played a significant role in how individuals worldwide received and reacted to the news. Emotions were high, and most news outlets played into it, which may be considered sensationalism by modern standards.
The “Russian Woodpecker”
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The “Russian Woodpecker” was a nickname given to a Russian radar system used as a part of a network for missile defense. This over-the-horizon radar system was used at the height of the Cold War to detect interference in the event of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Many news stories about this system did not fully explain what it did or how effective and accurate it was. The stories may have even had the potential to make audiences feel a certain way towards the Soviet Union, causing negative feelings to stir.
The Maxi Singles
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When the ‘80s rolled in, cassette tapes replaced vinyl records. However, while reminiscing about the ‘60s when vinyl records were extensive, musicians started advertising maxi singles, just like vinyl records made of different materials and content. Musicians, music companies, and even entertainment news industries started pushing the maxi singles and made them seem more significant than they were to increase sales performances. These objects were sensationalized for something they weren’t, and they soon became quite popular with the public, thanks to how they were described and advertised.
The Royal Wedding
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The royal wedding between Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer was the talk of the whole world even days after it happened in July of 1981. This was a big event that year, and news outlets worldwide wrote about or reported it for their audiences. Many of these outlets played into how big this event was, which garnered them a bigger audience. Although this was a significant event that year, its focus and impact on news outlets may be considered media sensationalism as the event was blown out of proportion due to the sheer number of reports it had.
Live Aid 1985
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Live Aid 1985 was a global campaign and one of the largest-scale satellite link-ups in television history, with simultaneous events in England and the United States. This campaign was organized to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. Because of the media coverage, the event reached an estimated 400 million live viewers worldwide, making it a success. If the media did not sensationalize the event, it may not have had the same level of success as it did.
Gacy Death Sentence
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John Wayne Gacy was sentenced to death in March of 1980 when he was convicted for the murders of 33 young men and boys. This case was reported by many news outlets that may have even sensationalized the whole story, playing to their audience’s emotions and need to decipher good from evil. The news of his capture and the details of what he did to his victims were very shocking for all to hear or read. His victims’ families agreed with the death sentence he was given and even applauded the decision.
Michael Jackson’s Multi-million Dollar Purchase
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In 1985, it was reported that the famed musician Michael Jackson spent nearly $50 million on a British music publishing company’s copyright to songs, including the catalog of over 250 The Beatles songs. This story made it into many news outlets. Although it was a hefty price tag even then, news outlets may have sensationalized the whole story owing to the two musical giants involved in the story.
First Artificial Heart Transplant
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The first-ever artificial heart transplant was performed in 1982 on a 61-year-old patient. This surgery laid the path for some of the most significant developments in medical history. This was a major event in medical history, and news outlets all over the country rightfully made reports on the event, which played an influential role in medicine. However, some of the news stories reported may be seen as sensationalism towards the patient who was reported to want to contribute his body towards science. He made a personal choice, and releasing some of his personal details, like his name, may be considered taking a step too far today.
Shooting of Alleged Robbers
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In December of 1984, reports were made of a news story in New York where a subway rider was believed to have shot and wounded four other men who were allegedly trying to rob him. This story made it to several areas around the country because the shooter was then seen jumping out of a train and running away from the scene at the train station. The news stories that emerged from this event could be considered sensationalized today owing to how news outlets reported the events that unfolded. Audiences were led to certain impressions based on how they read or saw the news story reported to them.
Olympics Boycott
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The 1980 Summer Olympics was special as many countries boycotted the sporting event to protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. This was a unique situation that seldom happens throughout history. Approximately sixty countries boycotted the Olympics, and it was a significant event that was talked about all over the world. However, the nature of the boycott, the countries that partook in it, and the reasons for the boycott may be considered sensationalized by modern standards owing to the news outlets play on how they informed audiences about the event with a non-neutral reporting style.
The Santa Robber
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The winter holidays are usually a time of festivities and cheer. However, a man dressed in a Santa Claus suit took it upon himself to rob an armored car while being armed and accompanied by an accomplice in December 1988. There were several news stories regarding the incident as the two robbers got away with over $500,000. Some of the stories may be regarded as sensationalism as the way the story was reported played into the holidays, lacking the neutrality required while reporting the robbery of such a large sum.
Atomic Fires at Chernobyl
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The Chornobyl disaster began in April 1986 when one of the nuclear reactors at a power plant exploded, leading to many deaths. The accident took several days to contain, but its impact was felt for several years after the first explosion. There were reports of atomic fires, which are considered more disastrous than a reactor meltdown. This unfortunate accident had a significant impact on the residents of the city. It was covered by many news outlets worldwide who may have sensationalized the whole incident to make the story reach a wider audience.
The Presidential Turkey Pardon
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On November 18, 1989, President Bush gave the Presidential pardon to a 50-pound turkey for Thanksgiving Day. Although this is a US tradition, news outlets reporting on this story could be regarded as sensationalizing the story to make it seem more significant than it was. The National Turkey Federation reported that approximately 45 million turkeys would be consumed on Thanksgiving Day that year. The sensationalized story of the pardoned turkey does not create a discussion about the number of turkeys that would eventually be killed.