Top predators like the shark were once revered as guardian deities - now they are demonized as terrorizing killers. While once respected and worshipped they are now considered to be the epitome of evil and malevolence. This transformation in our emotional response and perception is due in large part to the media. The media creates fear with their use of framing, images, and agendas that emphasize the sensational. Fear is a motivating force and a compelling emotion used by the media to increase ratings and keep the reader or viewer interested. Predators are receiving negative publicity and it is impairing conservation efforts launched on their behalf. A change in the media’s treatment of predators and a significant change in their audience’s expectations may be the only way to develop a more realistic and appropriate public attitude toward predators. This thesis will explore this predicament by creating an understanding of what fear is, how it is generated, and how the media uses it, before suggesting solutions that might decrease sensationalism and increase the factual content of media reports.
The creative component of the thesis, the twenty-five minute film Tangled Waters, illustrates how the small community of Dunedin, New Zealand brought an end to a forty-year practice of shark netting. In 1967, Dunedin placed anti-shark nets off three beaches to protect beachgoers from great white sharks. Ratepayers came together and campaigned to not only save themselves $38,000 a year of council spending, but also to positively support their local marine wildlife. The film Tangled Waters is an example of a way to educate people on a current events news story on predators without sensationalizing the topic. The film demonstrates a method of presenting predators in a factual framework while promoting conservation efforts on their behalf.
