News
News

Torpy: Yikes! Fear is scary stuff

By
Oct 13, 2014

The world is, hands down, a very unsettling place, especially these days. ISIL is chopping off heads in Iraq. Ebola is laying waste to thousands in West Africa. And we haven’t even mentioned the nuclear obsessions of governments in North Korea and perhaps Iran that aren’t our biggest fans.

So, yes, a bit of angst is in order. But here’s the thing: Thanks to TV and the www, those things seem like they’re in our laps than thousands of miles away. And, frankly, some people’s paychecks depend on hyping that feeling, revving up the fear factor.

Read the full story, only on MyAJC.com.

About the Author

Bill Torpy, who writes about metro Atlanta for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, joined the newspaper in 1990.

Follow Bill Torpy on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

In 1993, Atlanta had two city papers, The Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution. The newsrooms merged years earlier, but they didn't become The Atlanta Journal-Constitution until 2001. (AJC 1993)

‘Digital is real time, print is lifetime’: Farewells to the paper AJC

From the sound of the presses to framing special front pages, those who helped build the AJC share their memories.

PSC won’t delay key Georgia Power vote after Democrats’ election wins

The Georgia Public Service Commission has rejected a bid to delay a key vote on whether to allow Georgia Power to execute a historic expansion of its generation fleet.

Clapping out the paper: A farewell to ink, deadlines and the print AJC

Beginning on Jan. 1, this 157-year-old institution will become a fully digital news operation. No more paper. No more ink-stained fingers. No more paper in your driveway.

The Latest

In 1993, Atlanta had two city papers, The Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution. The newsrooms merged years earlier, but they didn't become The Atlanta Journal-Constitution until 2001. (AJC 1993)

‘Digital is real time, print is lifetime’: Farewells to the paper AJC

LISTEN

‘It’s UATL’: Fire and Ice: The Joy Goddess of Harlem

PSC won’t delay key Georgia Power vote after Democrats’ election wins

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward?

A veteran Georgia prosecutor will decide the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference case against Donald Trump and his allies.

With some solar power tax breaks expiring, Georgians rush to catch the sun

Georgia solar installers say they’re seeing a surge of customers trying to install rooftop solar systems before federal tax credits go away at the end of the year.

‘Automatic for the People’: Weaver D’s still bonds Athens as era nears end

After feeding everyone from R.E.M. to Brian Kemp, and coining a phrase that went global, Dexter Weaver is preparing to close his storied Athens soul food restaurant.