A fellow human asked: I would love to read more about your news intake (rather lack thereof!) [...] What led to the decision to abstain from news? How do you balance "staying informed" with well-being, with being present with what is before you?
I stopped watching news many years ago, and stopped reading news websites many months ago. This is not to say that fellow humans should do the same or that staying away from the news is a good practice in itself. But this is to say that, in my personal experience, reducing my intake of news significantly has had a positive effect on my spiritual growth and how I relate with the world (the self, humans and non-humans, and nature). Perhaps watching or reading the news has a positive effect on other humans. For example, it may encourage them to act.
Like many others, I believe that staying informed is important. Yet, I do not think that reading the news is the only way to stay informed. Very often, as a social scientist, I am exposed to various articles, books, talks, and discussions about what is unfolding in the world.
To me, news stories often feel sensationalist rather than genuinely informative. When watching the news, I also felt that they are often biased and a form of entertainment. It seems as if they are designed to make humans return to those pages. And there is something for everyone: heartbreaking news about wars and human suffering co-exist on the same pages with "dramatic" incidents in reality tv shows and information about this season's "must-haves".
I fear that being constantly exposed to heartbreaking news may desensitise humans. At times, after avoiding news for many months, I hear something, some information about a war or poverty. I cannot sleep or think about anything else but that particular story. I feel that I'm becoming a more empathetic person when I avoid the news. My stepfather would always watch the news. He is a kind and empathetic person. He would watch a heartbreaking story and say something along the lines of "This is so bad! Poor people!" Yet, after some minutes he would continue his life as before.
There are oftentimes stories about poverty and inequality. For this, one can look at statistics or walk through a poor neighbourhood.
I came to the realisation that something good and something bad is always happening in the world. When I am reading the news, I'm not doing anything. I'm consuming information that some organisation chose for me and fellow others to consume, and using electricity. Instead, I would prefer to read philosophy, grow spiritually, contemplate various ways how we, individually and collectively, can make the world a better place. Imagine if all of us, instead of spending this hour watching or reading the news, would organise. Create no-buy groups, establish networks of support, volunteer.
I've noticed that it's almost impossible to avoid staying informed about recent events. Fellow humans would always tell me and want to discuss what is unfolding in the world. At times, my partner and I would go to a local café where they have newspapers. Then I have an opportunity to see what has been unfolding. I don't usually do that though.
I'm not saying that I will never, ever read news again. But if I ever return to the practice of reading the news every morning, I would certainly limit the time I spend on those websites.