Poll Do You Read, Watch/ Listen To The News?

[Changing4Best]

Do you read, watch or listen to the TV or Radio news, (or newspapers or magazines)? Or are you turned off by it and don't like to watch or listen to or read about it?

Please feel free to express further opinions on this subject in the discussion section below.

 

[Leah123]

Hello! I'm so glad you raised this topic!

It's important to me. I am an adult child of an alcoholic and suffer PTSD from childhood trauma.

Watching the news would frustrate me, because I grew up knowing it was my job to fix *everything* that was wrong, and I worry about not being able to tolerate so many things being wrong in the world.

I believe in helping where I can, and that since I can't fix everything on the news, it's not useful for me to watch it.

I don't want to be ignorant, but I find that people have a lot of useless knowledge, and for example, I hate how some will complain verbally about news, but do NOTHING to change it.

I keep appraised of top stories, but don't ever get obsessed with the news or read/watch for long.

Now, the irony, is that I am pursuing my Bachelor's in Digital Journalism, right now. I spent two years as a student journalist as well, ending in 2010. I loved it. I enjoy telling true stories, untangling complex issues, bringing the dark to light. It's a challenge for me to reconcile my disinterest in hearing the news with my desire to write it. I believe, though, that by covering the news with integrity, accuracy, thoroughness, then I will be doing something to change the world for the better, in a way I hope I can manage. I'll be fascinated to see what others have to say on this topic.

 

[Changing4Best]

I try not to be exposed to it at all if I can help it, but every once in awhile, I run into something very upsetting on Facebook (FB). I don't even own a TV, nor do I listen to the radio or read the news anywhere. I chose to stay away from it while I was in my twenties and I still try to protect myself from it now, when I am almost 60.

Yesterday I saw a photo of a young college girl on FB that had been arrested in Iran for drinking a beer. She was raped by the prison guards over 20 times, given 80 lashes and there was a photo of her back to go with this story on FB. I ran into it before I could protect myself from it and now I have been most disturbed by it. It keeps haunting me! I hate this.

I have not returned to FB today and wonder if I will ever go there again, yet it is the only way I can keep in touch with some of my relatives and friends who live far away from me.

I have not decided what to do yet. If I do decide, I will let you all know.

I'm curious as to how all of you will answer this poll. Also how you feel about the news in general.

 

[Lucycat]

I listen to the news on the radio every day, and also catch up via trends on twitter and read the papers sometimes. I don't focus on the negative stories. I also like to read about advances in science, healthcare and education. I am interested in politics. I would really miss the news.

I am selective and if something upsets me I stop listening/reading. I feel that 'the news' helps me to relate to the world in general.

 

[Changing4Best]

Oh yes, I should mention as well that my uncle wrote for the ABC News Show 20/20 and that he also wrote for the New York Times. He and I did not get along very well, once I decided not to watch the news or have anything to do with it. In fact, we didn't speak to one another most of our lives. He died a number of years ago....

 

[Chincho]

I read my city's and national newspapers online daily. I mostly just read the headlines and sometimes a full story if it seems interesting.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I try to as much as I can because I'm so isolated from the world as it is, it's the only way I can keep in touch with the world/ However there have been many times where I have felt that the way the world/country/politics etc were going I wished I could have changed it, I got in a negative cycle of thinking ending up feeling guilty and helpless and a few times it left me suicidal, so I read now only a little and only with caution and frequently stop for days, weeks or even months on end.

 

[Changing4Best]

...so I read now only a little and only with caution and frequently stop for days, weeks or even months on end.

I can relate to your feeling this way a lot. I ventured to FB VERY cautiously today, being careful what I read now, even if it is only a headline.

The story that so haunted me is wearing off now, but I did realize (I think) that the thing was only a headline and the photo didn't really give me a warning either, which is how I got dunked under by it I think. If there was a story with it, I don't think I read it. The headline was a killer to me enough. But I am not sure if maybe I did read a story to it, it so shocked me I cannot recall for sure.

I'm just relieved that the memory of it is wearing off slowly. None the less, I'll probably never fully forget it.

 

[DharmaGirl]

It triggers me and gives me a false sense of fear. I don't want to to it.

 

[Queen Boudica]

I try to avoid watching the News. I will watch if I know there is something I am interested in and I have mentally prepared myself for the story. However a lot of the news is traumatising. The killing of the soldier in Woolwich, I avoided watching at all costs only then to have someone recount the whole story graphically whilst I was in Pilates which was very disturbing to me. I was in a waiting room the other day and the news was on and I saw the image of Nigella being strangled, that nearly caused me to throw up in the waiting room and I got very agitated. So I know the News can really disturb me. Most current affairs and politics I find very disappointing and depressing anyway.

 

[Changing4Best]

Most current affairs and politics I find very disappointing and depressing anyway.

You got that right! Even 40 years ago it was all BAD NEWS, and I am sure it has not gotten any better!

You would think they could come up with more than ONE happy story, but they have trouble even doing that each newscast, and again, I am talking 40 years ago. I have not watched it since then, except when I get subjected to it in doctors' offices. Then, if possible, I turn my back to it or ignore it as best I can.

 

[rightkindofme]

I have dropped facebook. I am still on twitter but I don't follow many people. Mostly I hear about the fight for rights that sex workers are experiencing around the world. (I know a lot of sex workers.)

If I keep up with the news I am not functional because there is just too much pain.