Some Words: Informed But Not Overwhelmed

It feels like January has been 34 years long. It's just one thing after another after another. As a DC resident, the news of the plane crash in the Potomac hit me especially hard. Normally, I consume current events with abandon. This week, I found I just couldn't do it any more. My inbox was awash in breaking news alerts about the crash, new presidential administration, events in the Middle East, and various local concerns. It was all just too much.

But I can't completely stop paying attention. It's important to be informed. The issue is how to be informed without being overwhelmed. 

The chaos this week reminded me of the webinar I gave last summer about creating your news diet. The session focused on how to keep up with current events while maintaining your mental health. The webinar is worth a watch, but I thought I would tl;dr the most important points below.

• First, some background:
  • The news landscape has changed. Instead of getting news once (or maybe twice) a day, we have 24/7 access anywhere we go.
  • Anyone with a phone can report and share the news now. Dedicated journalists and editors no longer control the flow or access to newsmakers. 
  • News feeds are becoming individualized which reinforces personal bubbles.
• Next, some context:
  • Misinformation is spreading wildly and is entirely unchecked. Some of this is deliberately constructed, some is just rumors taking flight. You can't always take what you read, see, or hear at face value.
  • "Traditional" news is expensive to make which is why "the truth is paywalled." These days you have to pay for access to quality information.
  • Everything has a bias. It's important to fact check and consider what is credible versus what is clickbait. The Ad Fontes media bias chart can provide good context.
• This is why it's important to create a healthy news diet:
  • Basic recommendation is to follow:
    • 1 international source
    • 1 national source
    • 1 local source
    • 1 hyperlocal source
    • 3-5 niche interest sources
  • Adapt this to work for you. Only you can decide how much news or what kind of coverage you want and need.
• Some tips and best practices:
  • Pace yourself and develop a routine for check-in (i.e. once in the morning and once at night)
  • Focus on quality over quantity. It is better to pay for ONE quality news source than read a bunch of places with iffy reputations.
  • You don’t have to read everything (skim the headlines and/or first few paragraphs – traditional news style puts the most important stuff at the top).
  • Get a well rounded view by following a mix of sources - newspaper, TV, podcasts, newsletters, etc. Same goes for a mix of viewpoints - conservative, liberal, middle of the road.
• A few final notes:
  • When it comes to breaking news, know that things will change. This is normal and expected. We need the full story and context to develop.
  • Wire services like AP and Reuters are your friend. They are outlets that provide news reports to other media service and are mostly FACT driven.
  • Many of the paywalled sources (like The Washington Post and The New York Times) can be FREELY accessed through your local public library.

How do you stay informed without becoming too stressed?

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