Being informed is important, but with so much news out there, and so much of it negative, it is hard to find the time and mental bandwidth to keep up with everything that is going on. A 2023 Pew Research Center poll found the percentage of adults surveyed who say they follow the news all or most of the time dropped from 51% in 2016 to 38% in 2022, with only 19% of people age 18-29 putting themselves in that category. There’s even a name for this trend – news fatigue.
What’s the best way to solve this dilemma? Think about news the way you think about something else you consume – food. Some of the same tips for eating healthy, can also help you build positive and healthy news habits.
- Read the label – When you read an article or listen to a story take it with a grain of salt. Consider the source. There are fewer outlets that are truly neutral right now and while it is comfort food to get your news from sources that match your political leanings, seeking out other points of view leads to a more balanced diet. AllSides has what they call a media bias chart that reflects where news outlets are on the political spectrum.
- Take in raw ingredients – We’re all busy, but when it comes to big events like this week’s Vice-Presidential debate, there is no substitute for watching it live. The instant the event is over, the spinning begins, with analysts presenting their own version of what happened and news outlets slicing and dicing soundbites to make their point. Rather than wait for someone else to tell you, watching an event live allows you to formulate your own opinion.
- Sample different food groups – Start each day by checking out various types of media to get an idea of what is happening in the world. Different forms of media have their benefits, which is why it’s a good idea to bring variety into your news diet by utilizing different types of media – articles, radio, TV, and podcasts. Print allows for deeper analysis, TV and radio bring you immediacy, and podcasts have the time to have longer discussions about key issues.
- Keep junk food to a minimum – The impact of social media on news is rising. According to one study, 39% of adults under 30 get their news from TikTok. Another survey found 43% of adults turn to Facebook for news. While social media can give you a quick sugar rush, with news flashing to grab your attention– it’s important to be aware of the potential for misinformation, the amplification of non-news sources that aren’t subject to fact checking, and algorithms that put items in your social media feeds designed to get a response to keep you scrolling. Interesting and important aren’t always the same thing and too much time spent consuming interesting content takes time away from learning about issues that can have a real impact on your life.
- Don’t overeat – While consuming news is important, it’s also good to give yourself time to digest information. Experts say being too plugged in to the news can negatively impact your mental health. Practice good self-care. Step away from the news and do activities that reduce stress like exercising, meditating, spending time with friends and family, and pursuing hobbies you enjoy.
It is a strange time for news. While it’s easier than ever to obtain information, the closing of outlets at an average of 2.5 local newspapers closing per week means there are fewer reputable news sources from which to get it. Also, we’re just starting to experience the influence and impact of AI, which could make it harder than ever to discern between what is real and what is fake. However, if you practice healthy news habits, you can get the information you need and be able to trust what you learn.
