Science of Fear. Part I

Lots to learn from Daniel Gardner's book, my number two recommendation of the year behind True Enough. Before you scratch your head and say what does this have to do with A) sports media relations, or B) journalism -- pick up the book and read the first and last chapters. You should be able to steal that much time in the old BN or Borders. After that, you'll buy it.

Gardner distills a lot of behavioral science and psychology for laymen, and introduces some major concepts from the fields that do indeed relate to media.

He starts from the position that mankind is safer than it has been in recorded history from disease, war, famine and tyranny at the start of the 21st century; yet as a whole, the advanced Western societies are more consumed with angst than ever. Cites Ulrich Beck and his term of "risk society," pointing that we're becoming more afraid because the risk actually are growing. This is because "technology outstrips our ability to control it."

No, Gardner's not fearful of SkyNet. He's more worried about what we are doing to ourselves with a "culture of fear" because "Fear sells. Fear makes money."