Ed Said: No news is good news

17 Jan, 2022

Twenty-five years ago, when the daily newspapers were at the height of their circulation and advertising popularity, as a regular reader of many things I would look forward to Saturday’s NZ Herald. Back then the largest edition of the week was four inches thick and weighed about 10 kilos. It made a satisfying thud as it hit the coffee table, a sound of credibility simply because of the sheer volume of information it contained. Dissecting the tome into its sections there was no page that wouldn’t have my keen eye cast over it - entertainment, automotive, real estate, business. Fast forward, and now there’s simply too much news, too often, from everywhere.

For years I used to think that people who didn’t read or watch the news regularly were missing out on something - were unenlightened, uninformed, even ignorant. But since pushing myself away from the keyboard a few weeks ago I’ve had a welcome break from the news. What I learned was there are so many news sources circulating these days we can’t help but hear about the important stuff anyway, whether we like it or not - endless Covid updates and speculation, natural disasters, the political climate, an unnecessary diplomatic row over a tennis player. We have to seriously ask ourselves: Do we really need to know that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are selling their $15 million LA mansion and are hunting for their ‘dream home’?

In the digital era we are showered with a hail of news and information by print, television, radio, email, text, apps and endless notifications that all demand our time and energy. Like a poor diet (too much and low quality) surely this constant stream of what is often negative, sensationalist and tabloid can’t be good for us. I wonder if too much bad news is bad for our health? According to some sources it is. There’s no doubt constant headlines about the coronavirus have taken a toll on many with anxiety, stress, uncertainty and fear around every Covid corner. In a US survey, 54 per cent of Americans said they were cutting back on their news consumption to avoid those feelings.

One Medical blog contributor Devin Collins offers insights into how the news is impacting our mental health saying bad news affects us physically and mentally, upsetting our body’s chemical balance, producing stress hormones, affecting our sleep, and creating a slew of negative feelings.

With all the information we are bombarded with, it stands to reason we need to learn how to filter and consume news that matters, be selective, so we’re not overwhelmed. Moderation is the key, says Collins. Stick to a few reliable sources. Also, regulate your time spent newsfeeding. Personally, often a once-a-day scroll through the headlines on a news app will tell me all I need to know about my world.

Interestingly Collins suggests avoiding the news before bed. But it makes sense. Why try to sleep with that sort of negativity rolling around in your head?

If you don’t feel the pressure to keep up with the news all day every day, congratulations. Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.

In the news today officials are imploring holidaymakers to take care over the rest of the summer after a surge in road deaths and drownings across the country. Relaxed borders have seen travellers take to the road in big numbers, and that means increased risk. Record high temperatures are also seeing Kiwis flock to beaches. Take care out there - don’t become part of the bad news.

Rich Pooley, Editor
info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz