Artūras Jonkus: Big Data — or Why the Media Writes More about Alcohol than Bread and Sex

SUMMARY

Artūras Jonkus explores how big data and media logic shape what we read — using the provocative example of why press coverage about alcohol far exceeds that of bread or sex. He argues that behind media trends lie deeper systemic patterns: analytics-driven content, advertiser incentives, and societal taboos.

Jonkus suggests that:

• The media often prioritises topics that generate engagement, controversy or measurable metrics — rather than those that are necessarily most relevant to daily life.

• Certain topics trigger predictable public and commercial responses, making them easier to package and monetise than everyday staples or intimate issues.

• Ultimately, the combination of big-data monitoring, editorial instincts and market forces determines what becomes news — and what remains invisible.

Read more here: Artūras Jonkus: Big Data — or Why the Media Writes More about Alcohol than about Bread and Sex