News avoidance

Working in comms and writing a weekly newsletter means we consume a lot of news. Like loads. We even had to read multiple takes on Labubu that one week.

That is often hard. And not just the creepy toy stuff.

Many people are simply switching off the news. Almost 3 in 4 Kiwis say they actively avoid the news to some extent. In the UK, those with a high interest in news almost halved from 70% in 2015 to 38% last year. The Reuters Institute reports a stagnation or decline in online news engagement across 17 markets, including Australia. 

This isn’t about channels or platforms. It’s a natural, self-preservative reaction to information that isn’t just depressing, it’s often existential. 

Just take this piece from Carmen Van Kerckhove, You are not your job. And soon, you won't have one, which also links to this article and this newsletter on the unfolding doom in the jobs market. It’s enough to make you want to pack it all in and go live in the woods. If the woods still exist, that is.

The sad fact is it isn’t going to get any better. News outlets might start covering more positive stories in an effort to reverse the slippage in clicks. But the moral imperative of reporting the tough stuff and the financial imperative of generating outrage will win out.

So with no end in sight, and avoidance a luxury we cannot afford, the only real solution is to seek context and hope.

Which brings us to Angus Hervey’s Ted talk on the hidden progress that perseveres even as it feels like the world is falling apart. 

A reminder that for every dollop of chaos, there is a kernel of optimism to brighten and balance. We recommend giving it a watch, now or whenever you might need it.