Avoiding the news
Ways to stay sane during a constitutional crisis
New research indicates more people are avoiding the news. This comes despite, or maybe because of more sources of information than ever before.
I realize I may be preaching to the choir. If you read this column, you are likely someone who not only consumes a lot of news but also cares about the quality of journalism, how it’s created, and who produces it. You likely care about what the news covers – your community, politics, issues and world problems.
I’m right there with you but we may be a dwindling lot. New research by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford shows 38% of U.S. survey respondents say they sometimes or often avoid the news. And those who are extremely interested in news continues to shrink, now comprising 49% of Americans. For the first time in history, avid news consumers are in the minority. That’s down from 67% in 2015.
We all know what happened in 2016 that may have caused many Americans to want to hide their eyes. A campaign filled with insults, childish nicknames and bald-faced lies would make anyone want to put down the phone, turn off the TV and go for a walk in the woods.
When you add climate change, the war in Ukraine, a pandemic that killed nearly 7 million people worldwide and economic turmoil – it’s painful to sit down each day and try to understand it all.
Fatigue is understandable
In the world of TV news, November is a ratings month. Election day always falls early in the month. I used to think ratings would be through the roof because of all the campaign drama. But when the ratings report came out at the end of the month, I’d be surprised to see newscast viewing plunge after election day. Viewers simply got worn out by the negative ads, debates and campaign stories – and they walked away from the news for a while.
As tempting as it is to unplug and preserve mental health, don’t do it. For several reasons, chief among them – it’s exactly what many politicians and some media outlets want you to do. The goal of many negative campaign ads has always been to make a certain segment of the electorate so disgusted that they’ll walk away from the process and not vote. Certain politicians benefit from having a smaller turnout. The fewer people who pay attention, the better it is for the candidate.
Staying plugged in is going to be especially difficult right now, with a third indictment of Donald Trump and a fourth likely soon. The news will be dominated by Trump from now until election day 2024 and likely beyond. I hate how much space he takes up in my brain, in all our brains. I’m angry that he is putting the country through this gut-wrenching experience. It is a constitutional crisis like we’ve never seen before, but I firmly believe we must go through it. It would be far easier to let him off the hook. The harder thing, and the right thing to do, is to hold him responsible in a court of law.
Ways to cope
It will not be easy for any of us. I’ve tried to reduce the number of Trump stories I consume. One method I’m using currently is to read stories about something that actually has happened and avoid stories that are mere speculation about what might happen. And there are a lot of speculative stories. What is this judge likely to do, or that one? How can trial dates conflict with the election calendar? What’s a jury likely to do in Florida vs. one in D.C.? Nobody knows and it doesn’t help my mental health to worry about it. Tell me facts! I can deal with facts.
I’ll admit I consume way too much news. I read the Register, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Iowa Capital Dispatch and multiple blogs every day. I may need an intervention. After a lifetime in journalism, it’s a hard habit to break.
Another method I’ve employed is to take a news vacation. Turn off the spigot for a day or two. Go for that walk in the woods. Climb onto a bike. It helps to clear out the brain. I come back to the news with a healthier perspective.
What is your advice?
I want to hear what YOU think about news consumption or avoidance. Have you changed? Please add a comment and tell me whether you’ve felt more tempted recently to walk away, or not. What methods do you employ to maintain sanity? What are you hearing from friends and relatives? Anything journalists should be doing more of or less of?
You’re a well-informed group. Click the “leave a comment” button and share your insights and perhaps we can all learn better ways of staying informed without going stark raving mad.
I’m honored be among the many talented writers and artists on this list (below).
Please subscribe to the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Weekly Round up column:
I can only speak for myself but I stopped watching/reading the news when the reporters and stations started inserting their political biases. Historically media has always had political bias. Thomas Jefferson secretly owned his own paper and trashed John Adams. But it seems that the ‘70’s and ‘80’s news media were a little more balanced. But politicians were also more likely to work on a common goal from both sides of the aisle in those decades too. A great example was Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neil working together. Right now everything seems to be approached with there is only one ideology that will work instead of taking the approach that here’s the issue now how do we fix it. I would love to see the news media ask tough questions about an issue and keep the fire turned up on everyone to resolve that issue. It seems currently the media tends to just relay the different messages. They are just reporting on what people say instead of reporting on the issue and why it’s important. I haven’t watched local/national news for probably ten years. I stick to reading the news online and like you only read news with facts not speculation.
Dave, yes I think most of us, that are news junkies, are a little burned out some days. Sports has been a wonderful relief this summer. Wimbledon, women’s world soccer and concern that the Cardinals will never get a pitcher has really helped! I really dislike what is happening to print news. It may go away and that would be sad! Thanks for your perspective. 😊