I chose long ago to ditch News Channels. Somehow, they have to fill in 24 hours of so-called news daily. In my experience, 23 of those 24 hours are filled with fear-mongering and speculative opinionated experts who spew so-called facts that fit the political bias of that news agency.
I haven’t watched a national or international news channel in a long time nor visited their websites beyond skimming the headlines occasionally.
When I hear of a disaster, calamity or war going on somewhere in the world and want to get the facts, I go to a local news website in the affected area. Local TV stations know they can’t get away with speculative reporting, passing on rumours, or exaggerating the situation for long. If they do that for too long, the locals will turn to social media with first-person reports.
Once I get the initial story, I spend less time trying to get the ‘latest updates.’ Usually, those ‘updates’ creep into speculation and rumour-mongering.
If you are a parent, LIMIT your children’s access to network news. Be aware of what is playing on your TV or radio in the background of your day. Is the news channel on non-stop? Is the radio tuned into non-stop talk? Are adult discussions around your kids always about ‘bad news’? Watch their stress levels. This graphic says it all.
Phil 4:8 is my ‘food guide’ for healthy consumption regarding what I read or view. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. “
