I think that the emotional responses people get from the news are more abstract than focused. They can be sad or even compassionate in a general sense. But they don't really make an emotional connection with the subjects like they would if they met the people personally.
What is the difference? Are you sure about this?
What makes you so sure that you'd have an emotional connection that is any different than on television if you met a stranger on the streets and they started telling you their life stories and woes?
Hybrid Mode
