"Required reading" for today's smart writer.

"Required reading" for today's smart writer.
Information & inspiration to hone your craft and increase your cash...Since 2009

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

How to Get the "Scoop" When you Have an Aversion to the News!







It simply boggles my mom's brain, that as a “professional” writer and columnist, I rarely watch the news. She often kids that if the world were coming to an end, or the country were on alert for some type of disaster or attack, I would truly be in a serious pickle!

Conversely, she watches it religiously, about 2-3 times a day.
For me it's definitely an “acquired taste.” I don't dig digesting daily news accounts of crimes and doom and gloom. Not to mention, the reporting mantra of “if it bleeds it leads”, speaks to how we as a society are often drawn to sensationalism and “train wreck” viewing.

I've found too, that as your typical creative artist type, I'm much too sensitive to disengage.
Whenever I do tune in, the heartbreaking stories and graphic images often bring me to tears, or makes me want to donate money to questionable causes, or pray, or long for former years and simpler times. (I'm betting it's probably the same for you too).

Still, as a person who's paid regularly to be “informed” and expressive on a variety of topics and themes, I must stay in the know.

Here are a few ways I accomplish this and maintain my optimism, and you can too.
Read on as this journalist “reveals her sources”.

For “feel good” stories---I love watching Good Morning America, (thanks mom) for their reporting balance. You'll be exposed to human interests stories like an eighty-year old returning to college to get her first degree. Or see profiles of “accidental entrepreneurs” living their dreams. It's a great way to start the day.

Celebrity Gossip---Want the latest on Mel Gibson's melt down? Curious about Kate plus eight? Eager to find out who's hot and who's not at the box office? You'll want to touch base with Barbara Walters and the girls at the popular talk show, “The View.” You may not always agree with Elizabeth's perspective, but you will be informed and entertained.

Health and Fitness topics are handled by medical practitioners with a great deal of expertise and warm bedside manners, daily at a show aptly titled “The Doctors”. Produced by Dr. Phil's son, it covers a variety of tips and timely reports on how to eat better, look younger, and realize the benefits of preventative maintenance. Get the updates on scientific studies and medical advancements too.

Fashionista Finds---If your focus is helping women to dress for success for less, or giving the 4-1-1- on new signature fragrances by Beyonce or Elizabeth Taylor, check out Oprah, or the program “Mirror Mirror”. Consider them the “go-to-gurus” for looking good.

Word to the wise--As times and channels may differ, depending upon your viewing area, you'll want to check your local listings for details.


Don't let an aversion to watching the news keep you in the dark about events of the day.
After all, the more you learn, the more you'll earn. Just be creative and follow these often overlooked leads.


What's your take on this topic?


Image Credit: Salvatore Vuono

6 comments:

  1. I am not one to immerse myself in the news either. I dislike the sensationalism and the blood and guts mentality, among other things. Will tune in when major events occur, but even then strive for a balance, for so much of it is overdone.

    To stay in tune, I use Yahoo as my home page. It lists local, national, and worldwide news, human interest stories, celebrity happenings, sports, and weather. My daughter and I joke that if it weren't for the Yahoo page, we wouldn't know what was happening in the world. It's worked very well to date. :)

    Thanks for the tips,
    Karen

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  2. Jennifer Brown BanksAugust 19, 2010 at 1:17 PM

    Karen,

    Yahoo is a great resource as well. Thanks for this!

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  3. Jennifer: Thank you so much for this post. I seriously identified with what you were saying about not wanting too consume bad news and bad perspectives. It seems as if it is so pervasive when it comes to news and it definitely requires a different strategy in terms of consumption :) I agree with you on choosing carefully, but still getting updated information in the news. I also am a fan of the View and I definitely plan to check out "The Doctors". Thanks for the recommendation.

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  4. Jennifer Brown BanksAugust 20, 2010 at 4:36 AM

    Sibyl,

    You're quite welcome. I'm sure you'll like "The Doctors". And Dr. Travis will certainly leave quite an impression. Trust me on this one. :-)
    Thanks for weighing in with us.

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  5. I don't watch the news either, but I get quite a kick out of the AP stories on Yahoo's homepage and some of the topics on Facebook and Twitter. In fact, I get all of the hottest topics through these sources so it's like news coming to me.

    I'm also getting more stories from conversations with people, most of whom I don't know. It's great. And blogs are beginning to hold more credibility than traditional news sources so I subscribe to the blogs with topics that interest me.

    Those are my sources for stories.

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  6. Jennifer Brown BanksSeptember 4, 2010 at 4:37 PM

    Marcie,

    Great input here. I never thought to really consider FaceBook and Twitter as sources.

    Interesting that you perceive blogs as having more credibility than traditional news sources. Food for thought...thanks for weighing in with this.

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