Abstract

Mother Teresa once said, “If I look at the mass I will never act; if I look at the one, I will.” In a world saturated with images of war, famine, and displacement, this tension between scale and emotional response has become increasingly urgent. This study examines how different news media formats influence public sensitization toward humanitarian crises, with particular attention to empathy and behavioral intention. Focusing on the ongoing conflict in Sudan, it compares the effects of a narrative-driven news article and a reportorial video segment on audience response. Using an experimental survey design, 45 participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions. Measures of empathy were collected before and after exposure, alongside indicators of behavioral intention, including willingness to support relief efforts. The findings indicate that both formats produced significant increases in empathy; however, no statistically significant difference was found between the narrative and video conditions. Responses in the narrative condition, however, reflected a tendency toward greater emotional engagement. These results suggest that while media exposure can enhance empathetic engagement, format alone may not determine the extent of that response.

Advisor

Kille, Kent

Second Advisor

Shaya, Gregory

Department

Global Media and Digital Studies; Political Science

Disciplines

Digital Humanities | International Relations

Keywords

Sensitization, news media, Sudan, empathy fatigue

Publication Date

2026

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2026 Amy Gabrovsek