In his latest op-ed published January 14 in The Baltimore Sun, political science professor Thomas Schaller comments on the current state of today’s media, arguing the most popular stories are ones that feed off of emotion and feelings of moral superiority.

“In today’s media age, whether in the regular news or so-called reality television, the best stories are those for which viewers and listeners need almost zero information or background as a point of entry,” Schaller writes.

In his column titled “The outrage machine,” Schaller mentions certain programs and stories that tend to draw out emotion and feelings of superiority and cautions viewers: “all this tele-voyeurism coarsens the way we feel toward others. The mix of disgust, bemusement, horror or loathing generated from our couches can’t possibly make us more empathetic toward neighbors and compatriots.”

You can read the full op-ed in The Baltimore Sun here.