Confessions of a News Junkie
Look, I’m gonna admit it right now. I’ve got a problem. A big one. I’m a news addict. And honestly, I think most of us are. It’s not just me, Sarah from the newsdesk, who can’t go 36 hours without checking her phone for updates. It’s all of us. And it’s getting worse.
I remember back in 2010, when I was just starting out at the Aberdeen News. A colleague named Dave—let’s call him Dave—told me, “Sarah, you gotta stay on top of the news. It’s your job.” And I did. I devoured every word, every update. I thought I was being diligent. But now? I’m not so sure.
Last Tuesday, I found myself refreshing the news app at 11:30pm. I mean, what was I expecting? A midnight press conference? A breaking news alert about a cat stuck in a tree? (Which, honestly, would’ve been more interesting than half the stuff that actually makes the news.)
But Here’s the Thing…
We’re not just addicted to news. We’re addicted to the drama. The scandal. The outrage. It’s like a never-ending soap opera, and we can’t look away. And the algorithms? They’re not helping. They’re feeding us exactly what we want, when we want it. It’s a vicious cycle, and it’s completley unsustainable.
I talked to a friend of mine, let’s call him Marcus, about this. He’s a psychologist, and he told me, “Sarah, it’s like we’re mainlining dopamine. The more outrageous the news, the bigger the hit. And the more we consume, the more we need to get that same high.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the kicker. We’re not just consuming news for the sake of being informed. We’re consuming it because it’s become our entertainment. And that’s a problem. Because when news becomes entertainment, we start to treat it like a joke. We start to care more about the drama than the facts. And that’s when things get dangerous.
So What Do We Do About It?
I don’t have all the answers. But I think the first step is admitting we have a problem. We need to recognize that our news committment is not just about staying informed. It’s about feeding a habit. A habit that’s probably not good for us.
And maybe, just maybe, we need to take a step back. Unfollow a few news outlets. Turn off the notifications. Take a break from the 24-hour news cycle. It’s not gonna be easy. But honestly, neither is kicking any other addiction.
I’ve started trying this myself. And let me tell you, it’s not easy. There’s this constant itch, this need to know what’s happening. But I’m trying. And I think you should too.
Oh, and if you’re looking for some lifestyle tips daily improvement, check out this site I found. It’s got some pretty good advice on, well, pretty much everything. lifestyle tips daily improvement.
Anyway, I gotta run. I’ve got a meeting with the editor in like five minutes. Wish me luck.
About the Author: Sarah Thompson has been a senior editor at Aberdeen News for over 20 years. She’s seen it all, from political scandals to celebrity gossip, and she’s not afraid to share her opinions. When she’s not editing, you can find her obsessing over the latest news cycle or trying (and failing) to unplug from technology.
