As discussed in a few recent threads – the media blow everything out of proportion and actually CAUSE troubles they pretend to be wanting to solve/highlight.

1) Anti English / Anti Scot hatred – each sides media make it out as though the other hates their guts.
2) Crime – it's all doom and gloom, everything is aweful, and did you know lots ways of committing new crime? We found them, take a look!
3) If you do this you can cheat the benefits system, some people are doing it – why dont you before the government can find ways of stopping you.

Balls, wrong forum. Move me please!

I agree.

But if they didn't, then nothing would seem particularly dramatic/interesting/exciting/doom-worthy and no one would buy papers, wathc Sky News etc.

I don't buy papers or watch TV (much) for this very reason

Agreed, see Singletrack's coverage of 29ers this month as another case in point.

How's that going to help anyone, eh?

agreed when it comes to mainstream media, papers, cnn etc.. but without news some pretty awful things could go unnoticed.