Why I Refuse To Watch The News

Published on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 by Katherine

news doom and gloom

Three people were murdered last night, a teen died in a car accident, the BP spill is spreading and 26 abused animals were taken out of a local home this week and are currently in cages at the pound.

And this is only the teaser for my local station’s full half hour program. THAT is why I don’t watch the news.

I remember my father having the news on when I was a child. To me it was the most boring bit of television that was ever put on the air. Picture me rolling my eyes, sighing and walking out of the room as the anchor’s voice droned on and on.

But in those days, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. It wasn’t “news for ratings.” It was simply news, good or bad. If I knew then, right? I might have sat to listen for a bit.

Today there isn’t a single positive story on any of my local television stations. Every story is about murder, rape, abused animals or even worse, children. You don’t see any news reporters exclaiming, “Yowsa! I just got a great scoop on a large donation to the food bank!” Instead it is more like, “Hot DAMN! I have a murder-suicide on the peninsula!”

Furthermore, I have heard on many occasions a family member asked, “We just heard your son was killed. How do you feel?” Yes, that is a real question repeated often. “So your loved one is dead. How do you feel?”

What do they expect? “Well, kinda sad Junior is gone, but at least things will cost less at McDonalds!”

So I refuse to watch the news. I truly believe, “Garbage in, garbage out.” They can keep their garbage. I would rather be outside walking with my daughter anyways!

Do you watch the news? If so, do you watch local, CNN, World News, all or some?