Headlines greatly influence what we think

Headlines greatly influence the way we think  Many people do not read beyond them, and many of those who do are already preconditioned to accept what they read at face value. Scary and sensational  headlines and stories sell newspapers and television and the advertising that support them. 

It seems to matters little that they are often misleading, or even attempt to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."  Sales, readership and ratings are what counts.  

Headlines can have a dumbing down effect on the way we think, act and vote.  Used in this way, media freedom impairs our freedom. It is not good for democracy.

Liam Dann   pn94

The NZ Herald Editorial: "Consumer confidence fall a worry as gloom sets in" and its heading "Consumer confidence lowest since 2012" told much less than the whole truth. 

They were hardly balanced by its  "Good news for Govt: GDP up by 1pc, dollar rises on result"or even by Liam Dann's article that I reprint (with my emphasis in bold and  comments in parentheses) below:
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