A nutritious news diet
Many people spend a great deal of time thinking about their diets. They try to eat the right foods in the right quantities. Sometimes they may wish they鈥檇 made better choices.
Do news consumers spend as much time thinking about the news content they鈥檙e taking in via television, print, or, ever more likely, online?
What is the quality and quantity of this news diet?
As food consumers, many people are turning toward choosing quality over quantity, eating foods that are more carefully grown or prepared and that provide better nutrition. They are thoughtful about what they consume.
Might there be an analogy to the way people consume the news? Do they rush to take in as many quick bites as possible, especially responding to bites that send a sensation of quick amusement or shock?
How can people know if their news diet is a good one?
Here are some questions a thoughtful news consumer could ask:
Is this news nourishing me? Does it help me really understand what is happening or is it just intended to provoke an emotional response?
How does this news report make me feel? Do I come away with thoughts that are angry or hopeless or discouraged?
Do I go only to a few familiar places to consume news, especially news 鈥渇lavors鈥� that fulfill my expectations by always confirming what I 鈥渁lready know鈥�? A more balanced news diet might include several thoughtful sources that leave one with thoughts such as 鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 considered that viewpoint before鈥� or 鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 thought about that possible solution.鈥�
With access to a flood of news from around the globe online, people can easily overindulge in stories stuffed with shock or sentimentality. But they may regret later the effect these stories have on their mental digestion.
This isn鈥檛 meant as an advertisement for this news organization, though the Monitor is deeply committed to giving readers news that will truly nourish them. Many other news organizations are working hard at it, too. And as the definition of what journalism is expands, people are finding that 鈥渘ews鈥� can come from more and more places, including print and online magazines that provide in-depth reporting or online or print books that are able to dig even deeper into a news topic.
With sources of news proliferating, it鈥檚 worth asking what effect watching, listening to, or reading a given news report is having.
Noting the possible ill effects, some people are turning away from following the news altogether. They argue that they would be consuming 鈥渆mpty calories鈥� 鈥� either mere trivia or useless information. 鈥淲hy think about what鈥檚 happening in Iraq or Ukraine?鈥� they might say. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 affect what鈥檚 going on there and, besides, what happens won鈥檛 directly affect me.鈥�
But confining online time to conversing with Facebook pals and watching cute cat videos isn鈥檛 the answer either. The world needs knowledgeable, engaged citizens who are ready to put thoughtful news stories to use by taking action, whether it鈥檚 by voting in an election, helping out as a local volunteer, or praying about a world situation.
Many news reports may seem trivial or dismaying. But consuming the right kind of news can inspire better thinking.
And 鈥淵ou are what you think鈥� just may be an even more important truism than 鈥測ou are what you eat.鈥�
