I’ve got good news and bad news.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 8:37AMI’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that it actually exists (uh, good news), the bad news is that uplifting stories, as a general rule, are overshadowed by ‘catastrophic’ weather, politics, economies, fall from graces and celebrity obsession. One needn’t watch the evening news, open an internet browser or view any current event publication for long to walk away feeling pretty, well…..bummed. What’s important to keep in mind (maybe a post-it note?) is that our media here in the United States and prevalently around the globe, is skewed towards reporting en masse the ‘train wrecks.’
The good news about bad news, it sells
In the eloquent words of a Pulitzer Prize winning author, “well-behaved women seldom make history.” If the current shock and awe news environment demonstrates anything, it is just this. Try swapping, “women” for any other noun you can drum up (i.e. countries, AARP members, bankers), does the sentence still ring true? It certainly wouldn’t be overreaching the bounds of reality, would it? As a society (uh oh, here comes my sociological training) we should be conscious of how our habits shape what becomes “breaking news.” Bad news sells, but good news is just as real.
We as rabid consumers have a part to play. As much as I love riding the emotional roller coaster that is the stock market, political maneuvering, severe weather, etc., etc., I’d rather not allow cascading amounts of tragedy and uncertainty ruin my day and take focus away from what I can control. As selfish as that sounds, I know many intelligent, thoughtful people who chose to avoid the news in order to avoid, “becoming depressed.” While being informed and knowledgeable about the world around you is essential, like any diet, make sure your getting your other brain food groups too. Flexing your ‘happy news’ interest and seeking muscle can only help to even the score card on the old good vs. evil tally.