Do you really listen to the News?

Published on March 9, 2007 By foreverserenity In Current Events

I've come to realise that the news media will report what they want, when they want. Sometimes it doesn't even matter what is going on, as long as there is a more sensationalized story out there, they will be all over it, again, and again, and again, and again!

Take the death of Anna Nicole for example. I loved Anna Nicole, I really did. She was quite a character, but she was fun to watch, just to see what she would be doing. I'm not going to get into the theatrics (that might be the wrong word) of her life, I admired that she did all she could do despite the flak she got sometimes.

I for one was sorry to hear that she had died, especially since she leaves a baby behind.

The news media, television especially, did an endless array of programming around her life and her death. At first it was interesting because I didn't realise so many people would be involved in a tug-of-war over her body and her baby (and that part is not over). But after a while it began to drone on my last nerves! And don't even get me started about her mother! [I'm calm....I'm calm]

Anyway, with all that overkill about Anna Nicole, there were other things more newsworthy going on in our country and around the world that perhaps didn't get as much focus as it should have. Well, it seemed that way to me!

I listen to the news to keep myself informed on what's going on in the world around me. Some things I'm interested in more than others, some things I zone out if I have no interest in it, and others stay at the forefront of my mind because it made an impact on me.

I wondered to myself if other people experience the news the same way. Do they zone out, change the station or channel or don't watch or read the news at all? I can't say I blame people if they don't listen to the news. After all, there's nothing but sadness some of the times, or make that most of the times.

It would be great if the news were simply treated for what it is, information. To inform the people of the country, state, city or township listening or watching so that they can know what's going on around them. Instead we're regaled with the showmanship that the daily news report have become and it's all about the ratings factor.

So we hear about some things more than we hear about others, even if they aren't really news.

I saw an interesting quiz online today at msnbc.com. It asked "How much do you really know the news?" I took it and found out that I knew more than I thought I did, at least for this week anyway! I was told "You answered 80% of questions correctly." The two questions I got wrong were about news that I had little or no interest in so I must have zoned out when I heard them!

You should take the quiz to see if you know what's going on in the news! Here's the quiz! Link

Comments (Page 2)

Dr Guy

on Mar 09, 2007

Like I said, I don't bother with the news

YOu are a stinker!

Trudygolightly

on Mar 09, 2007

Like you, I can zone out whenever it doesn't interest me and I think that's quite normal. People usually perk up when it affects their life in some way.

I find I listen more closely to the local news than the world news. Tonight though was an exception as they had a story that affects all of us in some way.

dynamaso

on Mar 09, 2007

Most of the questions are Amero-centric (this is NOT an insult, just a fact). Even so, I still managed to get 4 right, but only because I've been watching the Daily Show and the Colbert Report a bit lately.

The best interpretation of the news I get from my wife, who works for a news agency. She cuts through all the crap, doesn't embellish anything and lets me know the really important stories.

Dr Guy

on Mar 09, 2007

Most of the questions are Amero-centric (this is NOT an insult, just a fact)

Ok, we trade you Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith for a dingo. Deal?

foreverserenity

on Mar 09, 2007

The one where the tragic fire took place, the holy city in Iraq and where the truck driver who won the lotto was from.

I know, I got that one for the same reason!

We should start a pool here in JU predicting what day ET will do a show without mentioning Anna Nicole Smith.

! I agree! That irritated me since I usually enjoy watching it just to hear what's going on in celebridom! I WATCH tv!

depend on more honest and reliable sources for my news, mainly my senses. If I wake up and I see that the planet and I are still here, well, it's a good news day.

! ROFL!!!

Tonight we'll tell you what deadly disease is sweeping the city, but first over to Jan with an important weather bulletin." Then Jan would say, "We will tell you which areas will be hit by a tornado but first over to John with the latest sports news." And it kept going...

UH..uh...I know, this is the way they actually do it too!

Except for Fox, you mentioned no one connected with NEWS. Perhaps you need to learn the difference between commentary and news?

Fox News is very popular aren't they?!

I scored 100% on the quiz.

Good job M!

Like you, I can zone out whenever it doesn't interest me and I think that's quite normal.

Well thank heavens for that!

! We'll have a zoning out party!

I find I listen more closely to the local news than the world news.

I do both. Especially since I have friends all over. I try to stay abreast of what's going on.

Most of the questions are Amero-centric (this is NOT an insult, just a fact).

I know Mark, none taken!

I still managed to get 4 right, but only because I've been watching the Daily Show and the Colbert Report a bit lately.

Yeah for the Daily Show!

She cuts through all the crap, doesn't embellish anything and lets me know the really important stories.

OOh, she needs her own show!

Ok, we trade you Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith for a dingo. Deal?

! Let's throw Brittany in too!

! OK, no Brittany jokes, she's trying to get her act together!

InBloom

on Mar 10, 2007

I watch the news in small increments...a bit of cnn, a bit of fox, a bit of local news. Chris thinks I'm obsessed with it, since I also tune into news online and read the local paper daily. However, I don't really delve into alot of it. You can only take so much of the bad stuff, the sensationalized stuff, and the stuff the is rehashed over and over again.

Out of all these, the one that does the best job of straightforward informing to me is the local paper, which is probably why it's my favorite.

foreverserenity

on Mar 11, 2007

Out of all these, the one that does the best job of straightforward informing to me is the local paper, which is probably why it's my favorite.

Yes, the local paper is always good, I find they keep things real! I enjoy reading mine on the Internet too!

! My hubby do bring one home on a daily basis though!lol!

Oy vey, I can't even spell Britney Spears name! How many of you shook your head at that one!

! [I know I did - scandalous!]

uDigItTheMost

on Mar 11, 2007

Oy vey, I can't even spell Britney Spears name! How many of you shook your head at that one!! [I know I did - scandalous!]

Serenitty, I didn'tt nottice you speltt Britany wrong. Oh oh I bettter sttop itt before I gett intto real ttrouble.

foreverserenity

on Mar 11, 2007

, I didn'tt nottice you speltt Britany wrong. Oh oh I bettter sttop itt before I gett intto real ttrouble.

LOL!

You're a nuttttt!!!!LOL!

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