Let’s talk about the news. Did you just sigh, too?
I get it. Tragic events, back-and-forth political bickering and non-stop phone notifications can make news feel like a drag.
And keeping up with it all can feel like a full-time job all on its own.
In fact, Pew research found 7 in 10 Americans, on both sides of the aisle, feel ‘news fatigue’ right now.
Yet, it’s important. News can affect so many aspects of our lives, from privacy issues to voting decisions, so how do we stay informed and stay sane?
I quit my career as a TV news reporter in Los Angeles to launch a quick daily news podcast that aims to solve these problems. Because, yes, even as a news-junkie journalist, I felt some of the same frustrations and heard from many other people who did, too.
Here are four ways to help control your news consumption so it doesn’t control you:
Don’t ‘sit’ in the tragedy
Less is more. You’ve heard it before but it applies to news, too. Yes, we should know about gun control laws and the debate surrounding them, but do we really need to watch three hours of breaking news coverage about the latest school shooting? Probably not, and if we do, it’ll likely leave us feeling more anxious and no more informed than before.
Instead, be more deliberate about the news you choose and how long you’re spending taking it all in. Whether you choose a news podcast during your morning commute or set a timer to read the news in just 15-minute intervals twice a day, this will help you avoid spending time on unnecessary details that are more for the shock value than actual value to your life.
There’s another benefit of keeping your news consumption on a time limit, and that’s simply keeping up with it over time! When you’re willing to build in just ten minutes of news into your morning routine, you’re more likely to make staying informed a daily habit rather than another stress-inducing ‘should.’
Listen to perspectives other than your own
I’m not suggesting you sit and watch cable news pundits for hours on end (see #1), but I am suggesting you pull yourself out of the echo chamber. Seek out two different news sources about the same story, and you may notice each one highlights slightly different viewpoints. I’m very intentional about pulling from a wide variety of news sources for The NewsWorthy to avoid allowing my own biases, or that of the other reporters I reference, to overly influence the script.
The real reason this strategy helps us is about civility and solutions. When we can at least hear what the ‘other side’ is suggesting on an issue, then perhaps we can find at least a little understanding, feel a little less anger, and maybe, get a little closer to a compromise.
Look for the helpers and/or solutions
As Mr. Rogers would say, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” In every tragedy, there are always heroes and/or helpers, like first responders and volunteers. For every problem, there are people working to find a solution. For every negative story, there are many more positive stories out there. Be sure to balance the bad by seeking out the good.
At the same time, it’s just as important not to feel like you must fix every problem. There’s a lot we can’t control. That’s okay. As you start to pay attention to how others are working toward solutions, and which stories and issues you feel most passionate about, you’ll be able to be selective yet effective with your contributions.
Variety is the spice of life
A simple way to ensure we’re mixing in the good stuff and learning more about the types of issues we care most about is to ensure we’re getting the variety pack of news. Our lives are varied and impacted by everything from politics to technology to entertainment, so let’s make sure our daily news intake reflects that! Besides, variety leads to way more interesting conversations.
I’ll look for stories ranging from important testimony on Capitol Hill and a new climate change report to how Monopoly is coming out with a talking version of the board game and what’s the highest-grossing movie of all time! Yes, there are international tensions affecting the economy, but there are also researchers figuring out ways to control robotic arms with our minds (no surgery required!) that could make life easier for amputees. It all matters.
So, whether you choose to listen to ten minutes of news each morning, or find your own best practices for news consumption, I hope these tips help lighten the load of what it means to stay informed and live a positive life.
Erica Mandy is an award-winning broadcast journalist who is building a new kind of media network, starting with her daily news podcast, The NewsWorthy. It provides all the day’s news in less than 10 minutes in a convenient, unbiased, and less depressing way—in what she calls “fast, fair and fun.”
Erica is one of the first podcasters to partner with Podfund, a company that invests in extraordinary and emerging podcasters, and she's been named one of "50 Women Changing the World in Media & Entertainment.
