The (Bad) News Media

". . . it’s painful to turn on the news. "

So I read in Willamette Star.  This prompted me to comment:

"This is exactly why I stopped watching the news and reading newspapers.  Since I did, I've been a much less stressed, much happier person.  It's not that I don't want to know what's going on, it's that the news media focus SO much on the bad, depressing, anger-inducing issues in life.  I still hear about what's going on, from friends or items floating around the 'net, but without all the lets-get-the-ratings-up/sell-more-copies drama."

I made a conscious decision to stop watching the news about 4 years ago.  I realized that every time I did, I would get physically stressed and emotionally depressed.  I would sometimes feel angry for hours after, and occasionally I'd break down and cry.

When I finally became consciously aware of the problem, I stopped and asked myself why it was so upsetting.  Was there something wrong with me?  Was I just a basket-case?  I found out that no, it wasn't me, it was them.  Good news doesn't get ratings, or sell papers.  At least not like bad news does.  Sure, every once in a while they throw in something uplifting, like a good sports score or a local hero saving a child, but for the most part it's all about people and situations being horrible, scary, evil, and generally unpleasant.

When I stopped watching, I became a better person.  I'm definitely happier, I like people better on a day-to-day basis, and I don't have such a bleak view of humanity in the large sense.  Sure, I occasionally miss out on some big story, but it's definitely worth the price!

What is your news program talking about tonight?