The Value of News

People always tell me I should read, listen to, or watch the news more. They always say how useful it is, how it can keep me well informed, how it can give me topics to talk about when interacting with people.

To me, the news is entertainment wrapped under the guise of education. It sensationalizes events to create a sense of urgency, to make the consumers alarmed and feel good that they are now that much more knowledgeable. Don’t eat tuna! Don’t let your daughters go to spring break!

The only news I read is specific to topics I am interested in. I don’t care about the general public’s version of the news. If something is important enough, I’m sure I will hear about it from friends or elsewhere.

I wonder how often people actually use the information they learn from the news. Do they know to be careful when driving? Do they unplug electronics when they leave the house? Or do they just go, “Hmm, interesting…” and move on with their daily lives?