People are, as a general rule, at least "nervous" about flying. If pressed to explain how or why a plane flies, they can't - it's akin to technological magic. They can't understand it, so it scares them.
People are also, as a general rule, pretty clueless about computers and any kind of automation. Any kind of AI/self-aware computer in the public mind is closer to some kind of death-dealing psychotic robot a la Terminator than something cute and cuddly. So, people fear automation.
Airbus have, rightly or wrong, gained the reputation as the "automated" aircraft - even on PPrune its a common refrain for people to claim they have more control as a Boeing pilot than flying an AB. (Often with an undercurrent of "thank the Lord" mixed in).
So, if a couple of accidents happen on the scary aeroplanes that are under the control of the scary computers .... is it any surprise that people get scared? And since the media exists to entertain, not to inform, they are going to play to that fear every time.