Stopped Watching the News and I Feel Better

[Aerides]

I don't think I ever "watched the news" after moving out of my parents' home. I follow a handful of journalists/newsletters that I trust to provide fact based reporting with as little editorializing as possible.

I listen to the POTUS channel on sirius sometimes, mainly for Julie Mason, and the roundup panel on fridays. The whole gist of her show is to bring on reporters across the spectrum (just not the fringes) and discuss the stories of the week, many of which they have written. It's a good way to get more details behind a story, and, to understand what to really expect over the next few months based on what's brewing or isn't.

 

[mystang52]

I also get worked up by the news. So, every morning I check up on a website, as I do want to have an idea what's going on. I tend to skim the articles, draw my own conclusions...........and will not check online or TV news rest of the day.

 

[skyking1]

I was checking the news daily. A part of me liked watching/ reading the news.

However there is always so much outrage associated with it. I prefer a calmer existence haha.

So I started just checking every 2 weeks. Just a few iterations in, when my two weeks came up, I realized I didn't even wanna look anymore. I am happier not reading it but didn't realize that until stopped reading it.

Now I check it once every month or two or three. I'll take 2 hours or so and catch up.

Its better this way for me which surprised me.

I am with you. Folks will say "X happened" and I say O really? It is fine to get the big happenings that way.
Being hyper informed stimulated is typically a downer for me. I'm not going to get on my virtual donkey and rush out to tilt at whatever "windmill" that is happening right now.

 

[Trailwalker]

I watch the local Tucson news and weather most early mornings for about ten minutes (until I get the weather) but haven’t watched tv national news for decades. I do scan a couple of online newspapers over breakfast.

 

[TripleLindy]

I’m a news junkie and have been since I was a kid. Unfortunately, it has become entertainment and a huge source of revenue for the networks. Remember when network news was a cost center as a public service in exchange for the broadcasting rights? Then CBS created 60 Minutes (which l loved even as a kid!) and all of a sudden the networks realized that they could actually turn a profit with the news.

Oh well. I still watch and read the news. But I stay away from sources that do not have true editorial oversight. Even that’s getting harder to do, as even the networks call their “news” entertainment when defending themselves in lawsuits.

 

[COcheesehead]

TV news is a brand and they market around it. Most people see that these days. That’s why I get my news from other sources.

 

[thenameiwish]

We stopped years ago when the conclusion was had that there was no value added. No upside, and only downside. A total waste of valuable time. I watch how watching effects people and feel sad for them.

 

[pacergal]

Bring back Walter! lol
Vary occasionally watch PBS news, otherwise, read online from Apple News, PBS or BBC--mostly headlines.

 

[COcheesehead]

We find ourselves seeking news that can really affect us so we both read the weekly health department food inspections. It helps weed out who won’t get our dining dollars.

 

[Lorenzo]

I limit my news intake for the same reason as the OP--I feel better. I don't read the news enough for it to be worth a paid subscription to a source that I can trust does not feed me selected news using an algorithm. Although I know of some free sites that appear not to customize their news feeds, I do not trust them to do that.

I will sporadically tune in to something like BBC World News on a TV to see the major headlines, and I read The Economist, a weekly news magazine, for more in-depth reporting.

 

[easysurfer]

I record news to watch on my DVR. This way I can fast forward past commercials and parts that I find not newsworthy. The fast forward button on my remote control is my friend .

 

[OddGuy]

You need a balanced diet of reliable sources. You have to stay up on current events or one day you wake up in a very different place.

Or you could just vote your chosen party line every two years and still make the same amount of difference.

Voting changes the world, but watching news, listening to podcasts and bickering online are hobbies.

How many people do you know who switched sides based on their news consumption?

 

[marko]

As much as I wish I could, I can't avoid the news.

Had a real eye opener with [a certain cable news station] deliberately distorting reality at the personal level 20 years ago.

Since then, I keep my sanity by reminding myself that it's all BS and half-truths.

 

[sparky08]

You need a balanced diet of reliable sources.

I would if I could find them.

 

[crule42]

I get most of my news from these forums.

 

[USGrant1962]

As much as I wish I could, I can't avoid the news.

Had a real eye opener with CNN deliberately distorting reality at the personal level 20 years ago.

Since then, I keep my sanity by reminding myself that it's all BS and half-truths.

Ah yes, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect. Had to look up the name again.

Basically it is when you see a news story on a topic that you are expert in and realize that the reporter is clueless. The rational conclusion is that is likely the case for most news stories. The amnesia effect is turning the page and believing what you read on other topics.

 

[Music Lover]

I like to stay informed and found the most accurate news to be a few accounts on X.

Regular TV news lost me a very long time ago due to their inaccuracy and lies.

 

[OK EE]

Problem is finding a source that is actually news instead of the garbage that is presented as news by almost all outlets. It seems like most "news" outlets are just grinding some political axe in public. No thanks.

I can read a couple other languages and for world news I find foreign news sources less ideology driven. Less, not free from. I agree with the OP. Stress is lower not watching or reading the news regularly.

 

[CaptTom]

One thing I'm finding is that if I seek out experts on topics which interest me, they usually report on "news" that affects their field. And they generally have a much less sensationalist, and more nuanced, take on the story.

I can go almost completely news-free this way. Say I check a financial site to see how my 401k is doing. If the politicians did something stupid (or good) economically, it will be reflected there. Everything I know about the Strait of Hormuz conflict comes from a shipping channel I follow. The list goes on.

The trick is not to get sucked into AI Slop. Pick any interesting topic, and there are 1,000 YouTube videos of AI-generated voice reading AI-generated scripts behind AI-generated graphics. Learn to recognize and avoid them. Find names of real people you can trust, and watch their actual channel, not a fake. Read text sources you trust.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

I'd like to turn off the news altogether, but worry about missing timely news about the next pandemic outbreak or the zombie apocalypse.

 

[Onda]

I get my news from Saturday Night Live because it’s the one of the places where it still feels more accurate than the evening news.

 

[COcheesehead]

As much as I wish I could, I can't avoid the news.

Had a real eye opener with CNN deliberately distorting reality at the personal level 20 years ago.

Since then, I keep my sanity by reminding myself that it's all BS and half-truths.

Interesting comment. I also was involved first hand with a news event and saw how it was reported later. Opened my eyes as well.

 

[TheWizard]

I watch three or four national news channels a fair amount of the time, often as I'm browsing the forum on my smartphone, or doing a puzzle of some sort.

I'm well aware that certain channels and commentators have political leanings and that's fine. I don't feel stressed at all.

Some commentators I don't particularly care for, so I'll switch to a different channel when their latest appearance confirms my dislike.
Sometimes repetition of a breaking news story is too much so I'll switch to one of the PBS channels.
And if the Red Sox are on, they have priority...

 

[Lewis Clark]

I used to get much of my news from Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. The headlines are what they are. As for the rest, at least he is honest about his fake news.

 

[Pointby2]

We watch the nightly news and the local morning show/news. I pretty much can tell when they are feeding me BS from also reading online news/YouTube/X. We also get the daily local newspaper, but I only read it about half the time.

News doesn't make me upset, but I know my family members watch a lot of "rage-bait" type news and it's not good for their peace of mind.