Why I Don’t Watch the News

I am often asked, “Do you watch the news?” or “Did you see this on the news?” at this point, in the conversation I hang my head in embarrassment and mumble something about not getting that channel. This is a true statement. In our house, where we are located, we can get no channels without cable or satellite. Yes, I am aware that there are ways to get local channels without paying big bucks, but the truth is that I have very little desire to see the news even if I could watch it. Why?

First, it’s depressing. News almost never highlights positive and useful things. It glorifies the bad things that happen. I can find out without looking at the television the bad things that go on. Every day I see broken, hurting people without the help of the press.

Second, all the principal news subsidiaries (there’s only about five or six) say the same thing. Some of you are thinking, “What did you expect, it’s the same news. Duh.” Which is true, but every one of them has the same bias? When did that become acceptable journalism? It’s not!! Any news company’s job is only to report the news not spin or refuse entirely to report news with the intent of leading the listener in a certain direction. The American people like lost sheep will follow wherever the media leads us. Let us, the people, decide what we believe about social issues. I think most of us can handle that much.

Third, there is so much fake news out there that, if you’re like me, you have no desire or time to filter through all the nonsense to try and figure out what the truth is and it’s to the point that it’s often impossible to discern the legitimate from the fake news.

On top of that, most of the news preys on the sensational because they want to lure the American people into watching the news. It appears the news media in our country wants to keep the American people angry at each other. They feed the anger and hatred because it provides more “sensational” news stories. They want you and I to feel uneasy. They desire to promote unrest because they know some will act out their angst and they have more news and more people watching.

I love finding good news. News of people helping their neighbors, news of people being kind to each other and doing positive things. If they reported that kind of story, perhaps I watch more news.

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