It has recently come to my attention that some of you out there have never read a newspaper*. Never.
I sincerely hope these people either can’t read, aren’t older than 7 or were recently asked to submit their brains to science.
Because I honestly can’t fathom why you would never have occasion to pick up a newspaper and give it a little nibble. (And by nibble, I mean light reading. Some people are so literal.)
So if you’ve never read a newspaper, I’ll be praying for you.
But what disconcerts me just as much is those people who may have read the newspaper a few times but who intentionally don’t read it anymore. Not because they are lazy. Not because they are too busy. Not because they lost their glasses. (Although I encourage all of the above to make some time for current events, even if you must strain your eyes.)
They don’t read the newspaper or watch the news because it “depresses” them.
Here’s the deal about life: It’s full of bad news. It’s also full of lots of good, positive news. You can find it on page B17 of most papers and in the entire Lifestyle section. Also, in your journal.
Your front page, however, is most likely going to be reserved for bad news … usually the baddest of the day. And maybe a little bit of good news if it’s well-written and involves important people … because bad news is usually the most important kind. It usually affects the most lives, represents the most vital issues and honors the most innocent victims.
Yet when I worked as a reporter for a newspaper in Utah I was told the majority of readers there want a pretty picture on the front page of their newspaper rather than a photo of war or disaster or tragedy. Also, they want to read more stories about pets and less about politics.
And I just don’t get it.
(Even when you say your kids might see it because I believe it encourages open, honest conversation about life.)
What is so scary about bad news? Are you afraid that it will jump out and bite you? Are you afraid that by reading it, it will happen to you? Are you afraid that you might have to feel sad for someone?
Because my understanding is that bad news helps us be more aware, more alert and more vigilant. It helps us be more compassionate, more involved and more cultured. It teaches us about bad choices and their consequences. It teaches us about the world, its people and their sufferings.
Granted, there are times I’ve stopped reading a story because it was too disturbing, but I didn’t fault the writer for including graphic details. After all, don’t we want the truth? And don’t we do victims an injustice when we censor it?
Yes, I dream of a newspaper filled with good news because there is no more bad news to write about. But we all know that won’t be happening in the near future.
In the meantime, there will be bad news. And you’ll find it in your newspaper.
But, will you read it?
I hope so.
*Of course, newspapers are becoming obsolete, but that’s another story. If you get your news from online media, I don’t blame you. I do it, too.
9 comments:
Well, sometimes I think that news is so "sensationalized" because newspapers and news shows want to be the highest rated that we don't always get a balanced view of the world at large. I was once in the hospital for 2 months and all I had to keep me company for long stretches of time was the tv, newspapers and magazines. I became surprisingly depressed...I joked with the nurses that I was getting a skewed view of the world. It started to appear that it was a hopeless place filled with child molesters, murderers, rapists and other vile people and things (which it is, but good definitely outweighs the bad). I keep aware with online sources of news, but I'm careful and selective because sensationalism is totally replacing the hard, cold facts in most cases. Also, I'm one of those who doesn't want my children exposed to things that could unnecessarily disturb them (child abuse/murders, etc.) I'm frank and honest when I need to be with them...stranger danger and all. But I do see your point about not avoiding the truth...like the horrors of war, or the devastation of natural disasters like Katrina just because it isn't "nice" to think about!
I too get most of my 'news' online. I grew up in a home where it was NOT a nightly tradition to watch the news, and now I know why. I've got to say I hate hearing all the bad, like you/Leisha said it is WAY over sensationalized, but I do feel it is important to be informed about the REAL ISSUES. I echo Leisha on the issue of explaining things to your kids. No need to avoid the truth, just be straight up with the facts.
the thing that annoys me in many news media sources is how their political agenda shines through. BOO! what ever happened to the "cold, hard facts" no matter how gruesome?
i grew up right outside of dc. my parents are somewhat of political junkies, i guess you could say. for as long as i can remember, they have always gotten 2 newspapers. a liberal one and a conservative one. they find their news somewhere in between. it bugs me to even look at the front page of both papers and see how TOTALLY differently they "report" the same story. sometimes it is hard to tell if the stories are even supposed to be about the same thing.
i understand that there is a place for editorials and i find them delightful, i just don't appreciate it seeping outside of its section.
i guess i am just a compartmentalizing kind of girl.
what news media are we supposed to believe? how do we know that we are being told the truth? i don't believe half the stuff i hear, read and see about the war because i know the "forces that be" have their own emotionally and politically charged views on it and honestly think they think we cannot form our own opinions. i don't know about you, i don't need to be told how to feel. i need to be told, honestly, what is going on.
leave forming an opinion to me, i am really good at it.
I agree with Mrs. R. I do like to stay pretty informed: national & international news online, and local on the 10 o’clock news and local news websites. However, much of the “news” I take with a grain of salt; knowing the biases that exist… which I think have become more pronounced in recent years, as our country seems to be more divided politically. As for actual newspapers, my parents always subscribed to two or three when I was growing up, and I do enjoy looking at them when I’m at their house. As for this house, we have tried a few times to subscribe and they only become a mountain in the recycle pile until I cancel the subscription. I don’t enjoy the black fingers that come from newsprint either.
As for my children’s exposure: I think it’s fine to keep them sheltered to an extent, and introduced to more grown-up issues gradually as they get older and it becomes more appropriate. They know there’s a war going on, they know that there are lots of bad guys out there (local & international), and we’ve discussed the stranger-danger issues. But I don’t think they need to be worried about the serial rapists.
well, what a great group of informed and selective readers i have! (gush, gush!) i agree with you all. sensationalism is a problem (especially on TV news), and you do have to talk to your kids in a language that they can understand. ("that's a bad man who hurt a lady," not "he's wanted for third degree sexual battery, which is ...")
although, i don't know if the news media's bias is as intentional as some of you feel it is. i think sometimes people begin to associate a paper with its editorial viewpoint, which limits the stories and sources its reporters have access to. for example, if you are considered the "liberal paper," you might find it hard to arrange an interview with the head of a conservative organization. so your story may have more quotes from the liberal side and only a statement from the other. but whose fault is that?
of course, that's not always the case. but i like to believe that most reporters truly have objectivity as their prime, well, objective. now, the heads of papers and media outlets are another post ...
I love reading the actual newspaper. For most of my married life (7 years) we have been subscribers of at least one and sometimes two newspapers. We read it over meals... and we never cease to have lively discussions. My kids look at the pictures, and they ask questions. Usually the pictures are fine. Tyson will ask, "Why is that man's picture in the paper?" I tell him the basics, and it's usually not a happy story. But that's life and that's news. Like everyone else, I take things with a grain of salt. Anyway, I just wanted to say that there is something wonderful about having a fresh newspaper on your doorstep every morning. You really should all try it.
you have no idea how much i agree with you. NO IDEA. of tragic things, victor hugo said "society absolutely must look into these things because they are its own work." i'm still appalled by the ignorance of people in the name of "it depresses me." i've done so many booths on campus at BYU to get the word out about the genocide in darfur, war in uganda, domestic violence in our own community etc.etc.etc. - and once when i asked "have you heard about the genocide in sudan?" a girl replied, "ya, is that a band?" hahaha - pretty much epitomizes the sort of blank-stared response i would get. i don't understand. this is a huge event which people chose to glance over out of fear of the effect it will have on their day. (what about the woman who was raped and whose husband was killed today in darfur? how do you think her day is going?) if everyone had that attitude, nothing would get done in the world. i don't know. sometimes it just breaks my heart to see the lack of knowledge. . .(sorry for the rant, this is just something i feel quite passionate about)
Maybe, J.R., the issue is that with all the problems in the world, we don't want to know all the details because there's nothing we can do to help EVERYONE who's in pain? We can dedicate ourselves to a cause, or a couple causes, but if we try to get involved in solving all of society's and the world's problems... well obviously that's not possible and we do have children to raise and homes to tend to. I like to be aware of the major issues in Africa, Iran, Korea, and elsewhere, but reading the horrific details everyday isn't helping their situation or mine. I suppose bad news is good if there's something that can be done about it. I'm not excusing your BYU blank-stares; just thinking it through here.
Dude. So true. Check out one of my posts from last week: http://dormliving101.blogspot.com/2007/03/quote-of-day-and-thankful-thursday.html
That's my twenty year old roommate. Coincidentally, she is completely ignorant about... hmm... EVERYTHING.
BTW, I found your blog through Stephanie. I am her in law of sorts.
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