Confessions of a News Junkie
Look, I’ll admit it. I’m a news addict. It’s gotten completley out of hand. I wake up at 5:30am, grab my phone, and immediately dive into the latest headlines. By the time I’m done with breakfast, I’ve probably read 50 articles. It’s a problem. And I’m not alone.
About three months ago, I was having coffee with my friend Marcus (let’s call him that, he’d hate the publicity). He’s a journalist, so he gets it. We were talking about the election, and he said something that stuck with me: “You know, I think we’re wired to pay more attention to bad news than good.” I asked him why. He told me it’s some evolutionary thing—our brains are primed to notice threats. Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing: it’s not just the big, obvious bad news. It’s the crime news report today, the political scandal, the celebrity feud. It’s all bad, all the time. And it’s making us miserable.
Why We Can’t Look Away
I did some digging (well, I asked around and read a few articles, let’s not get carried away). Turns out, there’s actual science behind this. A study by the University of Sussex found that negative news can increase our anxiety levels by 27% after just half an hour. Half an hour! That’s less time than it takes me to committment to reading the news every morning.
And it’s not just anxiety. It’s a sense of helplessness, too. Like, what can I do about a bombing in some far-off country? Or a politician’s latest gaffe? Nothing. So why do I keep reading about it?
I asked my colleague named Dave about this. He’s a psychologist, so he should know. He told me, “It’s a mix of fascination and fear. We’re drawn to the drama, but it also makes us feel unsafe.” I told him that sounded like a terrible combination. He laughed and said, “It is.”
The News Diet
So, what’s the solution? I’m not sure but I think it’s time for a news diet. And I don’t mean cutting out news completely. That’s not realistic, and honestly, it’s not what I’m suggesting.
But here’s what I am suggesting: be mindful about your news consumption. Set aside specific times for reading the news. For me, that’s 30 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening. That’s it. No more scrolling through headlines all day. No more reading news on my phone while I’m in line at the grocery store. It’s a small change, but it’s made a big difference.
And when I do read the news, I try to balance it out. For every bad news story, I look for a good one. It’s like a mental health amendment to my news diet. It’s not always easy—sometimes the good news is buried under layers of bad—but it’s worth it.
I also try to be more selective about the news I consume. I unfollowed a few news outlets on social media. Not because they’re bad, but because they’re too sensational. And I started following some new ones that focus on solutions, not just problems. It’s a work in progress, but I’m getting there.
A Tangent: The Power of Ignorance
Speaking of news diets, I have a friend who’s taken this to the extreme. Let’s call her Lisa. She’s a teacher, and she’s decided to go on a “news fast” during the school year. No news, no social media, nothing. She says it’s the only way she can stay sane and focused on her students.
I think she’s onto something. I mean, think about it: how much of the news we consume is actually relevant to our lives? Not much. It’s just background noise, physicaly and mentally. And it’s draining.
But here’s the thing about Lisa’s news fast: it’s not for everyone. I tried it once, and I lasted about 36 hours. I felt like I was missing out on something important. And maybe I was. But maybe I wasn’t. It’s a fine line, you know?
Back to Reality
So, where does that leave us? I think it leaves us with a choice. We can continue to consume news the way we always have, or we can take control. We can be mindful about what we read, when we read it, and how it affects us.
It’s not gonna be easy. We’re up against our own biology, for one thing. And we’re up against a news industry that thrives on bad news. But I think it’s a choice worth making.
So, what do you think? Are you ready to take control of your news consumption? I am. And I’m starting today.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Alex Carter. I’ve been a senior editor for over 20 years, and I’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry. I’m passionate about good storytelling, and I’m not afraid to call out bad journalism when I see it. I live in New York with my cat, Whiskers, and I’m always up for a good debate. You can find me on Twitter @AlexCarterNY.
