Comments on: What Works: Turn Off the News

By: Jack Fisher

Jack Fisher — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:19:30 +0000

I tired of news on TV and newspapers long ago and quit subscribing to them with the exception of occasional stories that demand my attention. What I find useful is reading “headlines” of stories that come to me over the internet and screening the ones I want to read about and deleting the rest. I find that I become more prone to reading about the stories of national and international interest, human interest stories with a happy ending, and scientific discoveries. The doom and gloom is for the most part avoided.

It is good to know, that I can also search the internet for the stories and information I want to read. I find Wikipedia a good source to begin my topical search for information. What you do not mention in your article is how much public opinion is influenced by the media. I have yet to find a definitive discussion in the matter – most articles just give further opinion to the matter.

By: Carmelita

Carmelita — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:31:07 +0000

Great topic of discussion. I’ve been discerning and questioning other Christians/Catholics about their take on this for years.

Yes the local news is too sensationalistic. And the national network news is one-sided, canned; and even worse, frequently siding with the large multinationals, and other massive,corrupt, powers that be.

Still I have a dream. My dream is that some Christians & Catholics, maybe even a few Buddhists, could produce the news we REALLY NEED. This is what we really need:

A.High tech updates and alerts: We need to know both what’s excellent, and what to take immediate action on. (Like the email scams of the past two weeks.)In this area we need constant RELIABLE High Tech info. Since keeping up with it can actually be a strain, and affect ordinary families’ earning power.

Also many elderly Christians/Catholics experience this need,(could use more compter help) to keep in better communication with younger family members. This can impact/improve their health needs.

B.MORE GOOD NEWS: I would love people like Maryknoll doing this as a ministry, explaining to kids, nonCatholics, all the breadth of their work and the footage of church groups, interdenominational justice work about things such as disaster rebuilding and microbusiness for single Moms.
C.EDUCATION: With truly gorgeous programs being offered on PBS (not saying every single one is perfect) with the camera there is such an opportunity to teach, teach, teach. So much beautiful nature out there, fantastic science, environmental causes that people can be quickly made aware of through the VISUAL gift of film.

These great works of art as film coverage, and film storytelling are, in my opinion, desperately needed by kids. So many youth over the whole planet don’t even know what awaits them instead of their overuse of video games.

By: Phil Fox Rose

Phil Fox Rose — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:35:16 +0000

Adrienne and Mike, thanks for your thoughtful comments. When you say that we should be “made more compassionate” by being exposed to news, it’s just not my experience that this is what happens. My contention is that bombarding yourself daily with situations for which you can do nothing does not improve your sense of connection and compassion, but rather tends to either harden or overwhelm you. I am further suggesting, and this is much more controversial, that thinking you are doing something about a situation by staying informed on it is an illusion. I’m not suggesting being uncompassionate. Far from it. I’m saying the way to express and enrich your compassion is more personal — either local action or something that resonates for you personally.

Adrienne, you make an excellent point that in the name of taking control of what you are exposed to, some people will choose only news sources which reinforce their existing views. Of course we should teach future generations to think critically, expose themselves to varied opinions and come to their own conclusions.

I believe there are many ways to address both of these issues without turning over control of what I see to a company that makes its choices based largely on how to scare and titillate me.

By: Adrienne

Adrienne — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:21:26 +0000

Although I agree with turning off the news that is sensationalist, I think caution should be used in a media culture where things are “pushed” to you: It’s too easy to have a very limited bit of news delivered to you. I think it’s important to be exposed to news so that we are made more compassionate and more involved in our communities and world – which is harder to do, I think, if we’re selective in what we read/see/hear. Our iPod and BlackBerry society honestly does a lot to cut us off from each other while it connects us in ways we never imagined. Instead of just tuning out, I think we should demand a media culture of balanced news, one that doesn’t try to sensationalize and that does try to bring in good stories. I personally like NPR and the occasional NY Times for this reason – I am fed with a wide range of information and, in the case of NPR, more or less factual and balanced. Again, instead of just boycotting or tuning out, we should try to work towards teaching future generations how to think critically and to ask for all sides of the story – and life.

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:02:29 +0000

I used to watch Maury Povich paternity test shows, as well as Court TV shows, with the intention of “praying for those who need it.” While I did pray for them, I found with time that I was really just addicted to the rush of disgust I felt toward others “more screwed up than me.” Despite all my pretenses of prayer, I watched these things to make myself feel better about myself at the expense of others. Now, I still pray for those in such situations, but I don’t have to watch it to know that it’s happening somewhere in the world–and I *do* find that this makes me more compassionate, because now my intentions are more sincere. The same goes for *any* kind of news shows… I prepare my home for a possible break-in, whether or not there is reported crime in my neighborhood. I am cautious no matter what. That’s just common sense; I don’t need the news to remind me to strive for safety. And I certainly don’t need it to know that evil is happening in the world.

By: Mike Hayes

Mike Hayes — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:18:43 +0000

What if the news makes you more sensitive to the plight and hardship that others face? I agree that CERTAIN people should turn off the news if it makes you more hardened of heart but what if it has the opposite effect as well?

Secondly, would you consider something like “The Daily Show” news?

By: Paul Davenport

Paul Davenport — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:57:19 +0000

The news, nothing but bad things are shown %99.99 nothing but lies, yes I am a catholic I like the truth even if it hurts.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:17:34 +0000

“Of course, there are times when one should pay attention to the news. When there is literally a crisis occurring, it might be helpful. When there is a national issue in which your input is possible, such as elections, or something like the current health care debate, you want to play your part. But these are specific issues for which you can tune in or visit websites at specific times. Or at least you can watch the news only while these situations are occurring.”

I don’t think this sounds silly, ridiculous, stupid or would produce a lack of credibility. I think selective news watching is a good stewardship of time. You can stay informed enough to pray and take action without 24/7 viewing.

By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:19:36 +0000

How silly. Not knowing what is going on in the world for your own peace of mind makes you ridiculous. Be as informed as you can be. Know the worst so you can pray or take action. Bad things happen because good people do nothing. Know everything you can and be conversant. How can you defend the truth if you seem stupid. To say ” I don’t know what’s going on” makes you much less credible.

By: amiehartnett

amiehartnett — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:11:14 +0000

I am way ahead of you there; turned off evening news for good after the 2008 elections. And not only news programs but political *discussion* shows (which are less discussion and more yelling and posturing) are off my radar these days, too.

I have to admit, though, after our local weekly paper was shut down by its parent company, that I became addicted to an online news magazine that is basically a local police/fire crime blotter. I have it bookmarked and often my husband and I find ourselves discussing the *latest* headlines from that source over dinner.

And – this might sound silly – but I receive email notices for our parish prayer list – which is a sort of news feed in itself in that it lets you know who died, who is in the hospital having surgery, recovering from a car accident, etc. Of course after I digest that news, I do say prayers for the ill/injured!!

By: Georgette

Georgette — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:07:13 +0000

If you turn the news off, then how do you know if there is a crisis?… reading the newspapers or listening to your neighbors??? DON’T you want to see and hear for yourself what the politicians say from their own mouths their own words and use your own jugement when comes your turn to choose?Why would anyone want to be ignorant of what is going on in his/her life? Why would you give up your freedom to choose given to us by God…?

By: Sharon

Sharon — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:39:00 +0000

I’m so glad to read this! I had recently commented to a friend that I didn’t think God intended for us to know, and carry the burden of knowing, every bad thing that happens in the world. We get addicted to hearing “up to the minute” updates on so many tragedies that we can do absolutely nothing about. It just breaks my heart trying to process all the grief and suffering. I prefer to lift it all to the only One who can handle the burden. Sufficient for each of us is the trouble near us, in our families, among our friends and in our neighborhoods.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:21:42 +0000

Thank you for your work and your upbeat attitude. It is refreshing. I quit watching the news about 30 years ago for these very reasons. My kids were small and my plate was very full of (mostly) joyful and time-consuming reality. I had no need and no tolerance for the sensationalism of television in the general and “TMI” News programs in the particular. My spirit was relieved to have the life I was actually living to deal with and not the fantasy fears of network news. Our family actually quit subscribing to a daily paper as well, choosing only to read Sundays and to protest LOUDLY to the culture of death editorial slant of our local newspaper each time a salesperson called to question our lack of subscription.

I found very quickly that people were only too happy to inform me of every tidbit of “news” that had crossed the airwaves, most of it entirely negative. It was simple to let them know that, “No, I hadn’t heard about that…God bless those poor folks.” It also became an occasion to remember how the good news of Jesus is so necessary to survival in our world. And the offering of that Gospel of Life to a world sorely in need of it became much more of a call in my day-to-day encounters. There are some things we just never need to hear, and we need to guard our hearts and our minds, submitting all things to Christ. At the same time when we DO hear lies and calumny, gossip and scandal, it is imperative for us, as Christians, to bring the conversation back to life-giving truth and gospel charity. Thanks for the reminder and the encouragement to address this issue once again.