Comments on: A Self-Imposed Media Fast

By: MARILYN YOCUM

MARILYN YOCUM — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:08:08 +0000

I listen to NPR headlines (top of any hour) and have NPR and NYT titles coming thorugh on Twitter. If there's a topic of interest, I can click to the link. Otherwise, I pass.

No more news junkie for me!

Having to be on top of every single story comes more from a false sense the knowing everything means I have some control OR a fear of not being smarter than everyone else. What if someone asks "Did you hear about….?" and I have to admit I didn't? Good heavens!

I'm not sure all that knowing in helping me minister to my world better.
I think I ought to be aware of what's happening without steeping in the awful, horrible news of it. God will enlighten me and lay on my heart those news stories that are MINE to personally address.

And now, the knowing I do have…..helps me pray…..and I have more time for it.

My recent post Unmasked

By: james

james — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:34:39 +0000

I have quit watching the news and reading papers years ago. I seldom, if ever, even pay attention to weather forecasts anymore. If something is important enough, someone will tell me.

By: Late to things

Late to things — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:34:37 +0000

I've come late to this, but I'm amazed how many folk are saying this is a suggestion to 'bury your head in the sand'. What rubbish! It's not saying listen to nothing, it's saying stop listening to loop repeats of negative reporting. Do you really need to listen to the news for four or five hours plus per day? NO. Except in EXCEPTIONAL circumstances.

By: UK follower

UK follower — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:25:57 +0000

II've never been a fan of 24hr reporting. Personally I believe it was better when information was gathered & THEN the news was reported on, rather than now, when we have endless amounts of speculation & hours & hours of 'non-news'. It used to be that if something major happened, the programmes would be interrupted for a 'news flash', usually saying there would be an extended news bulletin at a later time to cover the issue.

Now, you get 'breaking news', which usually tells you very little, & repeats the same information again and again. As a result, I rarely watch the national & international news on TV anymore, but I usually look up this information on line once or twice a day. That way I get to see all the major headlines, and can choose what I want/need to know more about. I DO watch local news programmes – in my area they are 1/2 hour slots so have to be succinct.

By: Peggy Shaw

Peggy Shaw — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:23:33 +0000

I think it's more complicated than that. I learned about the 9-11 crashes on the Today Show and was able to get into gear for my reporter's job and also call my mother near Washington to warn her to at leat go the basement for awhile. If you have a 401K, you should keep up with the stock market changes. And, yes, the economy is going to be what it is no matter what you do, but is sticking your head in the sand the answer? There might be a way you can help, and that way may become clear to you while you're watching or reading the news. I would go for a more middle-of-the-road approach.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:54:21 +0000

Neil Postman essentially said the only news we should concern ourselves with is news that we can do something about. Stay the course, Mike. I’ve enjoyed this for the better part of 2 years.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:35:58 +0000

Maybe this is unrelated however; I lost confidence in the media when I was working on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. We were evacuated due to an unidentified plane that was heading for restricted air space and it was thought to be heading for the Capitol building. After running for my life and things calmed down my coworker and I were at Union Station. We were waiting to get the all clear so we could return to work. At a table beside us a family was eating. A person walked up to the family's table and introduced their self as being a media person (I don't remember which outlet). They asked if anyone saw the plane that caused the evacuation. An 8 year old boy spoke up and said he saw the plane. The media person grew very excited and said "You did! What did it look like??" The boys father shook his head and with exasperation in his voice informed the media person the boy didn't see the plane, they were in Union Station at the time. I could just see the quote "An unidentified source (because he is 8 years old) described the plane as…" I admit I read CNN online but not everyday. That way I can pick what I want to read.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:42:44 +0000

I agree with the idea that the media exacerbates the confidence issue. However, if you didn't already understand the need to carefully filter what you read, watch, and hear through all media sources, you likely are clinically depressed. There are very few people who are not "talking their book" when they speak publicly.

As someone who comes from a long, double line of worriers, if you are not obsessing over the news, you'll find something else. Even in the "bad news sells" environment in which we live, there is usually a glass half-full view if you prefer to look at that perspective. Don't turn off the news; just turn off the "worry cells".

By: Chew Keng Sheng

Chew Keng Sheng — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:35:18 +0000

Yes, I agree that the media is just feeding too much bad news. But I don't quite agree of the steps to disconnecting yourself from all news feeds. Perhaps there is a balance between being prudence and being paranoid.

By: Bob LaForce

Bob LaForce — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:31:38 +0000

This is my attitude, too. I only watch the news when I have nothing else better to do – which is mostly, never.