News

[Allanah]

I don’t watch the news. I don’t even watch the local news. I know this is probably one of the stupidest things I can do. However, I’m wondering if anyone else is like this? I understand I should keep up with current events. I just hate worrying over everything going on in the world. I also hate how media can warp certain events. Media likes to make these murderers into celebrities and the victims get a backseat. I find myself getting angry when I see that happening.

Recently, however, I have thought about watching the world news more. I would like to know what is going on with Israel. I hear a lot of people talking about it and I’m completely oblivious.

[Racoon]

You basically need to keep your head in the sand and stay oblivious then...

 Nothing good is happening.

[sanctus]

There is a (bit tedious, reuquiring more effort from your part) way to circumvent one of the problems you have with news: how media warp, interpret and/or ignore events. Follow 3 optionally4 news channels:

one that is neutral or at least tries to

one leftwing to extreme left

one rightwing

optional: one not based in your country

 

Then by merging the info in the three you get a more objective picture of what is happening.

 

Personally I do not do this, I mainly follow bbc news (which I classify as kind of close to neutral) plus all the news from different fb-groups I follow (hence more on the left)

[Eclogite]

Excellent suggestion Sanctus, and one that I follow occassionally. I often watch RT the Russian 24 hours news program in English language. Al Jazeera is another good option to get a different viewpoint.

 

I used to subscribe to the Economist. I found it so alligned with my thinking that rather than form an opinion, I would read their view of matters to find out what I thought. 

 

I agree that the BBC is about as neutral as any news organisation can be. Within the UK part of the evidence for this is that both major political parties claim that the BBC is biased. I use their website for most of my news catch up.

[labelwench]

When I went to Alaska some years ago, I was quite startled to watch the news in that country because it did not seem to have a global perspective. In Canada, we have the CBC which is also considered to be an excellent objective news program which offers local, regional, national and international news. I do not watch much news but I will tune in to CBC at least a few times a week, and daily if I am following an ongoing event.

 

I listen to local news on the radio while I am driving to and from work four days a week and my weather channel on-line highlights any global weather events so I feel that I stay fairly well informed with minimal effort on my part. Hubby quickly scans the BBC and other news feeds by computer and will send me the link to any topic he thinks I will find of interest as well.

 

If you think you would like to incorporate a bit more news into your life, first decide on what sources you have confidence in and then identify if there is an easy way to plug them into what you are already doing, would be my suggestion. With news available on so many mediums, you can pick the one that best suits you.

[ErlyRisa]

Remmember the Weather Channel? or the Test Pattern...I think they are the best shows on TV.

[HydrogenBond]

News fixates on bad news, because this template sells the most product via commercials. If there is a happy ending, you feel good and move on with the rest of the day. But if there is something bad, people want to know more and stayed tuned allowing them to be exposed to more commercials.

 

For example, if a child is missing this is bad and you want to know what is happening and how you might help. You stay tuned to get the latest information and in the process get to watch a lot of commercials. If the little girl is found unharmed, you feel better and can move on and therefore will not watch as many commercials. 

 

The criminal is the star and the victim is worth less to the media. Birds of a feather flock together. 

 

One has to look at news in the context of the news businesses making money. Once a story is no longer keeping the crowd's attention, it is time to get a new story that will cause them to linger, again. 

 

Both liberal and conservative news use the same template but with different definitions of bad news. The conservatives may see bad economic indicators due to policy changes. They will harp on this bad and have discussions so keep interest for commercial exposure. The liberals have their own definition of bad, like a tax cut, which is extrapolated by experts to imply their people getting screwed. The liberals stay tuned for commercials.  

Edited September 10, 2014 by HydrogenBond

[AnssiH]

I don’t watch the news. I don’t even watch the local news. I know this is probably one of the stupidest things I can do. However, I’m wondering if anyone else is like this? I understand I should keep up with current events. I just hate worrying over everything going on in the world. I also hate how media can warp certain events. Media likes to make these murderers into celebrities and the victims get a backseat. I find myself getting angry when I see that happening.

I considered responding to this thread, but decided it was better to start a new thread instead. I don't think it will make you feel any less angry, but on the topic of media warping events, you should read it;

 

http://www.scienceforums.com/topic/27935-weapons-of-mass-ignorance-case-ukraine-conflict/