One of the first things I learned in media studies at uni is the importance of conflict in a story. We were taught that readers are interested in conflict, so always get both sides of the story and look for an angle that highlights that disagreement. This is why media serves up everything from climate skeptics with no economics or science qualifications, to reality shows that reduce a fabulous cook to tears because her gnocchi wasn’t perfect.
What a load of crap.
What I wish we’d heard more about is how to create constructive conflict, rather than just pitting one person against another. Constructive conflict juxtaposes ideas or places, not personalities. There was conflict in Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen and Food Revolution – will the kids learn to cook, will they get rid of the strawberry milk? It doesn’t all have to be voting people off or getting everyone to shout at each other.
