Shark Week Research Papers

Discovery’s Shark Week possesses the influence to seriously impact people’s view of sharks. However, are they successful in dispelling phobias surrounding sharks or do they encourage fear? Shark Week holds the largest audience for ocean science documentaries and shows. They also provide the largest source of shark related news, so they can reverse the public’s beliefs. Psychological research indicates viewer’s opinions are intimately linked to what they have observed onscreen. This allows the best chance for educating the public about shark conservation and accountable shark research. In fact, Discovery Channel’s president, Rich Ross, believes Shark Week has influenced— if not inspired— achievements including the congressional bill to …show more content…
Discovery, despite its fantastic ratings and goals, can focus on sensationalism rather than facts. Among multiple false documentaries including Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives and Mermaids: The Body Found, their Shark Week often misrepresents sharks in a violent light. It focusses on the few sharks that attack humans, but lacks information on the 500 species that pose people no danger. Its programs demonstrates sharks solely in their relationship to humans while exaggerating the amount of shark attacks. The line-up of the Documentaries for 2016 include inflammatory titles such as Return of the Mako Monster Shark, Air Jaws: The Night Stalker, and The Killing Games. Scientific facts equal impositions to their horror/thriller genre shows. When conservation is mentioned, Discovery treats it as a side note then returns to the Jaws theme. Facts do not stick with viewers when information is dispersed between violent imagery to the contrary. With how little influence scientific research has on the community, media exists as the only way to dispel myths and bring information to the public. Yet, Discovery plays with