Anybody else cutting way back on watching/reading the (bad) MSM news?

[RiverStone]

Virtually every source of news is mired in depressing facts and stats regarding our economic crisis. Even Countdown with Keith Olbermann and the Rachel Maddow Show are hard pressed to find any cheer --- and they are the good guys!

I want to stay informed, but no longer do I spend the time I used to feeding my news habit. The constant drone of depressing news is definitely having a psychological effect on my friends and co-workers. Call it a generalized anxiety related to when is the shit gonna really hit the fan?

Play in whatever form and place we find it, is really critical these days. Feeling a connection with other people (including on DU) is also very important. I hope your finding a space devoid of all this doom and gloom, where you can laugh easy and be a kid - albeit for long enough to not think about...

peace~:)

[billyoc]

1. I never watch MSM during the off season(non-election years).

I haven't seen Keith/Rachel, heard Stephanie/Hartman, etc., since the election. Don't miss any of them, either.

[Divine Discontent]

2. I've watched a lot less of them for sure. They're good people, but I get most of my 'news' from

here and reading/listening directly to President O himself, and his cabinet.

[babylonsister]

3. No. I ADORE new news. Ha! I do. nt

[47of74]

4. Sometimes

Sometimes I have to just turn it all off for a while and take a break.

[otohara]

5. MSNBC Off Until 8PM, No More Sunday

shows.

Last week on This Week - Karl Rove
The return of Newt has begun.

I won't listen to them trash our president 24/7 for the next 4 years.

[BlooInBloo]

6. I rarely watch it.

[FreakinDJ]

7. Stopped watching years ago - The News was canceled after 911

Right when Bush launched the "Patriot Act" and anyone that "ACTUALLY" reported the news recieved a nice little letter full of Anthrax

[glinda]

8. Odd man out I guess. Totally addicted. But I watch and read tons.

[RiverStone]

10. During the primaries, I was a news junkie

Now the constant drone of depressing news feels like a broken record --- and I only get my news from MSNBC.

Actually, DU is a great for the Latest Breaking News.

But I'll admit, all this economic doom talk is affecting me a little. I work in education, but also feel more vulnerable to cut backs.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. I cut down a bit. It is so depressing

[MarjorieG]

11. Cutting back because so anti-admin, and everyone is an expert with bold ideas.

[rockymountaindem]

12. I think I gotta cut back on DU for the same reason

Sitting in here it's hard to see things ever getting better.

[OregonBlue]

23. Same here. Just can't listen to the talking heads and feel frustrated when I read DU.

I watch CSPAN Washington Journal and a few other guests if they seem interesting but I just can't stand to listen to the MSM any more. What a bunch of hacks. Everyone's an expert. It's all hot air.

[Golden Raisin]

13. Although I believe it is

essential to be a well-informed citizen and I have rather strong news-junkie tendencies, your point is well taken. I mainly access news and information-gathering today via the Internet where there is a great deal of choice and variety. Unlike TV the big corporate interests have not yet taken over. I cancelled my (lifelong) subscription to the NY Times (my hometown paper) for a varety of reasons, not the least of which was their playing footsy with the Bush regime and witholding news. As someone who grew up when there was ONLY an evening half hour of Walter Cronkite or Huntley and Brinkley, the plethora of TV news options now is overwhelming and overwhelmingly depressing. It's 24/7, therefore extremely repetitive and very oppressive if you watch a lot. You see and hear the same thing (frequently propaganda) over and over and over. How many times have we all seen the endless-loop footage of the planes crashing into the Towers? Unfortunately I work at one of the big banks who are now in trouble and all over the news so I don't get much time for play, nor a break during (long) work hours from a depressing situation.

[40bama]

14. Still watch Rachel & Keith but not religiously

I am also tired of the bad news, but I want to be informed. I have no use for any other cable news show and never did. I'd rather read the paper, HuffPo, & DU.

[orleans]

15. welcome to du. n/t

[orleans]

16. i've cut back a TON as well.

after 8 years of angry, obsessive behavior i'm fucking exhausted.

as for keith & rach: lately i've been watching only about a half hour of her and maybe 45 min. of him.

[Warren Stupidity]

17. I gave up tv noise a long time ago.

I do read the newspaper, mostly out of habit. The Boston Globe is a decent paper. It is the crapfest on broadcast media that is truly disturbing.

[progressoid]

18. Yeah, me too - in the late 90's.

I do watch occasionally, but more to get a feel for how they are reporting, not for actual information.

I wish we had a paper even half as good as the Boston Globe. Our newspaper options are sucky.

Thankfully there are the internet tubes.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

19. Yes, I've cut back and that extends to The Daily Show and Colbert Report. I'm suffering burn out. I

get most of the real news from DU.

[raccoon]

20. Yes. I've decided to go on a news "diet." There's enough of depressing news

to bring anybody down.

And as you said, it's important to find a place to laugh.

[madokie]

21. Heres my plan

I get up come to DU, read, get in a few fights throw a few jabs, just kiddin, read some more then on some days about 3'ish or so I turn on tweety, sometimes staying and taking in David Shuster then on to Keith followed up with Dr Maddow. Up until sanja gupta's bullshit on MM and sicko I watched cnn during the day but with his outright fucking lies and willful misdirection I turned the early morning and mid day teevee off and get most of my news from the Internet, places such as the DU. I feel I am no less informed now than before I turned the damn thing off plus now by doing this I'm saving a ton of marbles on my 'lectric bill. win-win-win

[tavalon]

22. I've actually had to cut back on DU quite a bit because I

have been having anxiety attacks. The fact that these things are happening in my own house as well, don't help. My hubby lost 40% of his job.

[old mark]

24. I have NEVER SEEN most of the people/programs some here

get so angry at. I NEVER watch Fox for anything except football games. I don't watch CNN at all except for HLN when Morning Joe is on MSNBC. I watch the New York NBC (Today) and the Phily NBC morning news and local news programming by an independent station that is so non-slick it is just fun (They are real people, not elegant performers.)

I buy maybe 5 newspapers a year, usually around elections, and look for news on the web when I feel the need.

I hate right wingers, hate to see and hear them, and will not support them or patronise their advertisers - and I have emailed Fox and CNN and told them this! I'm only 1 person, but if enough people decline to accept this garbage in their lives and tell the garbage men why, we will have change.

mark

[Mnemosyne]

25. I can't tolerate it. The credit 'offers' have overrun every other ads, it seems. n/t

[Neurotica]

26. Yes - and catching up on family time, outdoor time, and reading instead

I am a news junkie, but I realized that I just cannot stomach the constant stream of depressing and scary news. I now skim the WaPo, occasionally tune into Keith and Rachel, and catch up on the headlines on the Internet.

I've made lots of trips to the local library lately in search of good books that are completely consuming. For example, Peter Mayle's books have allowed me to imagine that I am in Provence, sipping wine at an outdoor cafe (much better than imagining the downward trail of the stock market).

And as a family, we're trying to spend more time together -- hiking, taking bike rides, and meeting up with friends. I've also been borrowing old movies from the library. We went through an Alfred Hitchcock period, and just last weekend watched "Searching for Bobby Fischer."

I am somewhat reluctant to admit this, but I have also set up a Facebook page at the urging of a friend. This has enabled me to reconnect with people from my childhood, relatives, old friends from high school and college, and former colleagues. Everyone seems to have the same need right now.

[OneGrassRoot]

27. I stopped watching November 5th....

there was a ton of spin and misinformation prior to that date, but it has seemed to escalate and become pervasive to a heightened degree since the election results.

Good advice, RiverStone.

I must say, I feel much better when I don't watch MSM -- even a brief glimpse can send my BP skyrocketing in the last few months.

I check the hot discussions here, pay attention to local news, and that's as informed as I am of late, and I'm okay with that for now.

Peace to you as well. :)

[pacalo]

28. I haven't watched network or local news since the run-up to the Iraq invasion.

Haven't gone back since those cheerleading days, except for Keith, Rachel, & the Daily News. I do watch C-Span whenever there are hearings.

We no longer get the newspaper, either.

Not one thin dime or moment of my time will they get from me.