Hello, my name is T-bone and I'm a recovering news junkie.
Back in the day, I would read at the news sections of two or three major newspapers every day, with a scan of whatever smaller paper was local to me. I watched the news. I subscribed to a weekly news-analysis magazine as well as Columbia Journalism Review. I was a card-carrying proactive member of the Society of Professional Journalists. I loved to read the op-ed pages on politics. I'd watch a few of the Sunday morning interview shows. I breathed CNN.
Part of it was being a journalism major/political science minor in college, then eventually a part of the "news media," (although only at small, medium and semi-large papers) that made me want to remain in the know. Had the Internet been as ubiquitously powerful and available as it is now, that would have been part of my news-gathering routine also.
But my priorities shifted at some point. I don't consume nearly as much information as I used to. And you know what?
I like it.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not a completely passive citizen of this republic. I voted early in a recent Texas Constitutional election, during which 22 amendments were considered. I researched each one carefully before making my decisions, which took some serious digging. Makes me wonder how the majority of voters decided. I care about certain issues. I just don't tailgate them anymore.
Today's world not only offers us too many bits of information, it's the type that I find utterly useless. Here are some things I've learned online in the past week:
1. The news media cares way too much where Britney Spears puts her lips. Her choices, ranging from Madonna to a married dancer in her little gang, aren't improving with each smooch.
2. Male celebrities who are 54 years old can die. First John Ritter, and now singer Robert Palmer.
3. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are seeking a gun permit in Georgia. I was not intrigued enough to follow the link, so I can't elaborate. Other than, who cares?
4. Scientists have proven, through carbon dating, that a tunnel mentioned in the Bible is in fact in existance just as it says in the Old Testament. Amazingly, it will take years and years before scientists realize the rest of the Bible is also true.
5. A man found a mouse in his fried chicken. Bummer.
6. France has created a deck of cards with the "most dangerous U.S. leaders." Guess it's back to Freedom Fries for awhile.
7. The national do-not-call list that allowed Americans to seek relief from telemarkets is getting hung up in state courts. Do what we do – don't answer the phone when you don't feel like it.
8. The Terminator is gaining support in the GOP party for governor of California. I know Cali is great – I can't wait to soak up some of its sunshine, culture and wonderful people – but I'm ineligible to vote in the recall election. I live in Texas. Enough already.
9. Iran has unranium. While this is quite important, the constant ringing of my home telephone is distracting me from paying attention to the story.
10. Parents keep killing their children. On purpose. Unless we begin actively looking for a cure to this epidemic, the news of another occurrence only saddens me.
My 8th-grade English teacher used to say you should read things that make you smarter, wiser or entertain you. I'm finding those things disturbingly harder to come by.
But T-bone, you didn't tell us HOW you untangled those News Junkie chains that bound you?
Online news has only made my addiction worse, unfortunately...
I'm powerless over news and GETTING IT NOW. :)
What's your secret? PF and Cutlet?
everytime you turn around someone is capitalizing off of someone else's mishaps/misfortune. unfortunately, people tune in to see what crappy situations are happening to crappy people everyday.....and they care...waaaayyy toooo much!!! tabloid TV is now on every major network.....it's big $$$$....I think it's a freakin' shame!!!
I am quite proud of how little I know about current celebrity drama. I avoid hearing about it at all costs. Why does that crap qualify as news at all? Why do people CARE? I will never understand.
Ignorance truly can be bliss sometimes.
Amen, T-Bone. Amen.
Truer words never spoken..good post! Good for you for knowing how to stay informed on political issues without listening to what passes for news these days, too! You did better than I did on that.
I'm with you T, the news is just too much.
I can't take all that drama.
Wonderful post. The news available to us here in California is awful, I've lived here all my life and even I know it's awful. Too darn much Hollywood and not enough good old fashioned journalism. Hats off to you for being politically informed, it's a challenge and I'm not as good at it as I wish I was...but I keep trying. I love number 10 on your list...things would really change if people would simply turn off their TVs and read something that makes them either smarter, wiser or entertained.
I'm a news junkie.
In my defense, my job requires that I read several papers a day, keeping abreast of sci-tech stories here in the US and abroad.
That said, I'm also addicted to political coverage (but I think my homecourt vantage point -DC- provides more of an incentive than if I lived elsewhere).
I too was newspaper journalism/poli sci in college. Before that I worked on my high school and junior high paper. I still contribute photos and contenet for newsletters and belong to a few writing (journalism) organizations. Worked as a reporter for a couple years and still freelance occasionally.
I think the only way I could "turn off" my thirst for news would be if I hit my head on a rock and got amnesia.
The only news I don't follow is entertainment/celebrity. I could care less what Britney Spears is up to or who George Clooney is dating (although I am aware when he is in town filming or lobbying on behalf of K Street). :)
As for quality - I've spent this past week pouring over the submissions of a journalism competition. One thing the judges (comprised of working reporters) keep commenting on is the difficulty in selecting one winner because the quality of the reporting is so top notch on so many of the pieces.
I think that because there are so many more media outlets today, reporters in the field need to work 5 times as hard to stand out. And with the 24/7 news cycle, the turn around time is remarkable for some of the bigger stories. That's a lot of pressure.
I'm surprised we don't find more Jayson Blaires in the industry and many more mistakes (considering the shortage of fact checkers and the immediate turn around).