Abstract

News data from journalistic sources has become increasingly multifaceted, voluminous, and is updated in real-time. The relationship between mass communication and the psychological-behavioral reception of the public is an aspect of growing interest within communication psychology in the context. Therefore, the audience’s media literacy and their responses to the news are also a crucial area that warrants further investigation and discussion. Based on the journalistic data in Vietnam from the two-year period (2022-2023), this study analyzes the reactions of adult audiences in Ho Chi Minh City to negative news, drawing upon a literature review, in-depth interviews, and the theoretical framework of the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM). A qualitative research approach was adopted, with the data collected from in-depth interviews with 10 volunteer respondents. The findings revealed that the public exhibits three types of responses: (1) emotional responses, (2) adaptive responses (danger control), and (3) maladaptive responses (fear control). The authors also noted the mediating role of threat perception and individual background factors in stimulating these reactions. Consequently, recommendations are provided for content creators and producers to establish effective information processing protocols when addressing negative news.