I shall be sharing this with my husband who is currently in the other room watching CNN. Evidently he thinks “24 hour news channel” means he has to watch it that much.
You are validating a pre-internet approach to the world here. In the good old days you had your morning newspaper or radio news or maybe a TV news show. Then you went to work. Maybe at work you were able to listen to a radio station for music (for me it was KILT in Houston and WABC in New York). You didn’t willingly drown yourself in this stuff. You didn’t provide incentives to the media to demand off the cuff reactions to whatever crazy/sad thing that might be happening in the world.
Interesting, some of the most matter of fact, spin/bias/"analysis" free news I've seen was on the Spectrum channel. It's presented similarly to local news but more bare bones, less sensational. Nobody shouting the headlines. Etc. I guess Spectrum can pull this off because it's kinda like if NPR didn't have to depend on donors or cable/local/network news didn't have to depend on advertisers.
I got off the news treadmill about a year ago. I cottoned on early to the scourge of television news -- haven't watched any broadcast or cable news since 1987! However, I was a total news junkie otherwise, especially via newspapers, podcasts, and g-d help me, Twitter. I no longer use those sources anymore. I do read my two local papers, the Marin Independent Journal and the San Francisco Chronicle -- neither of them reports national or world news unless there's a local-specific angle. I find I can tolerate local news just fine. It's the world news, national news, and, above all, politics, that get me down. I was just reading that 9% of Americans pay no attention to news or current events whatsoever, and that's my life goal.
i used to watch a good amount of Keith Olbermann and Rachel on MSNBC but had a dropoff over the past few years. I still watch my local NYC morning weatherman here on Ch 11, but generally avoid big stories. All you need is the headline and to know what kind of slant a story has.
There is almost no time where a writer or reporter or newscaster speaks their own voice. It's clearly the voice of their corporate bosses (who tend to be right of center).
I became Sarah about twenty years ago. Whenever I *do* catch little bits of the news I'm amazed that anyone can stomach it. Not because it's about war and murder, but because it's written by people who can't write and read by people who can't read. It's all dangling modifiers and pleonasm (not to mention an unhealthy dose of dishonesty). And I'm talking about the sainted BBC here; I don't even want to imagine what Fox (say) is like.
If I wanted to get into conspiracy theories I'd say that it seems designed to make parents paranoid, to make sure they keep their kids indoors - so they have to constantly buy them things (expensive toys, awful food) to keep them amused.
Henry David Thoreau address this topic in Walden. Taking a break from the news is difficult because people share the news in person even if we miss the television or internet news feeds. I do wonder how many NBA teams are already following the tallest teen.
Empathy fatigue is a real thing, & the bad media (most) adds stress and high BP. IF one wants the short highlights without all the crap and manipulation that goes with, try watching BBC news or reading 1440 online. My life has changed with the latter, as I previously opted out of ALL news to avoid anger, sadness, and mind-*king on a daily basis. Now, I get the neutral highlights so I am not oblivious,
I love this. Your critique of tv news media sounds a lot like the book Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman, which I’ve been recommending to everyone. And as someone who was once hit on by Wolf Blitzer at a CNN annual shindig while I waited for my friend to get out of the bathroom... ya not missing much. 😬
Don't own a TV. Wolf Blitzer is still around? Am filtering all my news emails into folders so they are not in my immediate sight-lines. They will be there when I want them. Walking your dogs out in nature will add to your life-span. Squirrels stash food for less bountiful times, good model to follow. Am finding local news is more important.
I quit cable news (and news in general) back in 2018 and have never looked back.
I shall be sharing this with my husband who is currently in the other room watching CNN. Evidently he thinks “24 hour news channel” means he has to watch it that much.
I reached this point a few years ago and it’s made a marked improvement in my life.
You are validating a pre-internet approach to the world here. In the good old days you had your morning newspaper or radio news or maybe a TV news show. Then you went to work. Maybe at work you were able to listen to a radio station for music (for me it was KILT in Houston and WABC in New York). You didn’t willingly drown yourself in this stuff. You didn’t provide incentives to the media to demand off the cuff reactions to whatever crazy/sad thing that might be happening in the world.
No News. No Twitter/X. Thanks for the post.
Interesting, some of the most matter of fact, spin/bias/"analysis" free news I've seen was on the Spectrum channel. It's presented similarly to local news but more bare bones, less sensational. Nobody shouting the headlines. Etc. I guess Spectrum can pull this off because it's kinda like if NPR didn't have to depend on donors or cable/local/network news didn't have to depend on advertisers.
It's actually quite pleasant.
I got off the news treadmill about a year ago. I cottoned on early to the scourge of television news -- haven't watched any broadcast or cable news since 1987! However, I was a total news junkie otherwise, especially via newspapers, podcasts, and g-d help me, Twitter. I no longer use those sources anymore. I do read my two local papers, the Marin Independent Journal and the San Francisco Chronicle -- neither of them reports national or world news unless there's a local-specific angle. I find I can tolerate local news just fine. It's the world news, national news, and, above all, politics, that get me down. I was just reading that 9% of Americans pay no attention to news or current events whatsoever, and that's my life goal.
Well said, Michael.
i used to watch a good amount of Keith Olbermann and Rachel on MSNBC but had a dropoff over the past few years. I still watch my local NYC morning weatherman here on Ch 11, but generally avoid big stories. All you need is the headline and to know what kind of slant a story has.
There is almost no time where a writer or reporter or newscaster speaks their own voice. It's clearly the voice of their corporate bosses (who tend to be right of center).
I became Sarah about twenty years ago. Whenever I *do* catch little bits of the news I'm amazed that anyone can stomach it. Not because it's about war and murder, but because it's written by people who can't write and read by people who can't read. It's all dangling modifiers and pleonasm (not to mention an unhealthy dose of dishonesty). And I'm talking about the sainted BBC here; I don't even want to imagine what Fox (say) is like.
If I wanted to get into conspiracy theories I'd say that it seems designed to make parents paranoid, to make sure they keep their kids indoors - so they have to constantly buy them things (expensive toys, awful food) to keep them amused.
Oh well...
Henry David Thoreau address this topic in Walden. Taking a break from the news is difficult because people share the news in person even if we miss the television or internet news feeds. I do wonder how many NBA teams are already following the tallest teen.
Yes, yes, yes!!!
Empathy fatigue is a real thing, & the bad media (most) adds stress and high BP. IF one wants the short highlights without all the crap and manipulation that goes with, try watching BBC news or reading 1440 online. My life has changed with the latter, as I previously opted out of ALL news to avoid anger, sadness, and mind-*king on a daily basis. Now, I get the neutral highlights so I am not oblivious,
and move on. Ohhhhmmmm.
I love this. Your critique of tv news media sounds a lot like the book Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman, which I’ve been recommending to everyone. And as someone who was once hit on by Wolf Blitzer at a CNN annual shindig while I waited for my friend to get out of the bathroom... ya not missing much. 😬
I am so much happier without network or cable news. I’m not unaware of world events, but I choose not to be consumed and overwhelmed by them.
Don't own a TV. Wolf Blitzer is still around? Am filtering all my news emails into folders so they are not in my immediate sight-lines. They will be there when I want them. Walking your dogs out in nature will add to your life-span. Squirrels stash food for less bountiful times, good model to follow. Am finding local news is more important.
“Life is short and fucked” This is poetry!