“I never watch the News’.

No. I very much dislike that the News has become a form of entertainment. Often trading on people’s misfortune to fill their time slots.
Very reliant on “personalities” to give opinions or just as bad pointless opinionated interviews with the person in the street, presented as facts.

I think it’s odd too. I’m almost obsessed with the news although I do have to limit myself if something really upsetting has happened

I too think it odd. I acknowledge that not everyone watches lots of news and current affairs programmes as I do (because it interests me), but surely, even watching something 'shallow' such as The One Show or any of the breakfast programmes will mean some exposure to current affairs? Does she not have any colleagues who have had the lack of an NHS dentist problem? Also, if the person in question is an administrator of a FB page, surely she should be aware of the kind of issues raised? It is not all speeding through the village/potholes/missing cats.

My friend doesn't follow the news - and has no interest at all in current affairs or politics. She doesn't vote, either, just lives in her own little world.

By contrast, my mother took a very keen interest in it all, convinced that it was vital to be up to date and well informed about news from around the world - despite being 89 (and I did wonder why - as it made no difference, really).

I have a friend like that. We often meet up with other friends and as you do we discuss what’s going on in the world.
90% of the time my friend has no idea what we’re talking about.

I think as citizens we’ve got a responsibility to keep up to date what’s happening in the UK and in the world, so yes, I think it’s very odd not to be aware of the news.

There is nothing new about this attitude. I had an aunt and uncle, who died over 20 years ago, who never read papers, listened or viewed the news, but were always ready to pontificate on everything their friends told them.

I am with Casdon I think we have a responsibility to know what is happening in the world around us. Once upon a time, it was sufficient just to know what was happening in your own locality and, possibly, country, but nowadays when international events interlink and what is happening 10,000 miles from us can be critical to the price of our food, what energy we use, and who comes to this country, there is no excuse for putting your head in the sand. Do that and you will not see the sandbag coming that will take your life or your families.

I rarely watch TV news or the breakfast shows, although I read dozens of online news sources and watch podcasts. I do watch documentaries and current affairs programmes, although I've given up on Question Time.

I have a friend who 'just doesn't do news' in any shape or form. Baffling.

I rarely watch or listen to the news after changing to a smart TV and losing my usual facility. It comes to me indirectly on my Ipad or from other sources. I occasionally glance to keep up to date.
I decided it was depressing me. All the terrible things in the world gathered together in one place a few times a day could not be beneficial to my mental health.

I’m sure I feel better for it and I’ll know soon enough if something happens without dwelling on dreadful situations I can do nothing about. It’s often pure schadenfreude that makes people listen to and watch news many times a day.

i am 60 and i don't watch the news, i have a look at online news sites and headlines that are set from national newspapers to my inbox, some news stories i am not interested in so sitting watching the news to me is pointless.

We haven't watched the news on TV since Covid reared it's ugly head.
We read the news from multiple sources on the Internet, but not the BBC.

We always watch the news in order to know what’s going on in the world. It’s unimaginable to be unaware. By ‘the news’ I mean BBC and Sky - not some programme where ‘celebrities’ air their views. We also read ‘broadsheet’ newspapers.
What are your ‘multiple sources on the internet, but not the BBC’, LadyGracie? How reputable and unbiased are they?

I start every day listening to R4 News Briefing on my tablet, regardless of what time I wake up. I listened to Today for 30+ years, but in the last decade, I've found it irritating. I have breakfast TV on with subtitles, but often on mute. I turn sound on if it looks interesting. I find the politician interviews uninformative, I find most of the pre-noon presenters irritating. Grumpy old lady!
I'm aware of what's going on locally, nationally and across the world. When I read people's opinions, I look things up. I find many TV/radio interviews skewed and missing balance, likewise newspapers.

I have a neighbour who never watches the news, but then he is an airline pilot so if he tuned in at locations all over the world he would be too depressed to fly his plane.

There's news and news.

Some of the main news bulletins seem to contain such items as a pop star being accused by her dancers of fat-shaming. Am I bovvered?
Well, included as one item in a article about discrimination it could be an interesting point, but day after day as a main news item? I just don't care!
Nor which new films are out.

Proper news, yes and I do like to hear an item of happy news amongst all the doom and gloom.

I couldn't have the news on 24/7, too depressing.

I don't watch the News,my choice. I do read the news,from all political views. That way I can read what is news, and not a particular news channels political take on what they think we should know about, and then proceed to only give one side of the story, or miss a chunk out. Once upon a time news was news, not a political rant by the beeb.

Some people are very busy.
Or like to live in their own world.
Or are not curious.
Or dont want the negativity of it all.
Up to them.

I dont know how much Face book keeps them up to date with things?

I very rarely watch television, so I don't watch the news, but I have a daily newspaper, which covers the news in more depth than TV news ever does, and I use online sources.

I find it odd that people don't want to be aware of what is going on, but it's their choice, I suppose.

I almost never watch the news. However, I read at least three online newspapers and also peruse other sources of news. I find tv news quite slow, shallow and often behind the loop compared to online. I don’t listen every day to Radio 4 news but I like that.

I think I’m as well or better informed than many people in my life, tbh.

Callistemon21

There's news and news.

Some of the main news bulletins seem to contain such items as a pop star being accused by her dancers of fat-shaming. Am I bovvered?
Well, included as one item in a article about discrimination it could be an interesting point, but day after day as a main news item? I just don't care!
Nor which new films are out.

Proper news, yes and I do like to hear an item of happy news amongst all the doom and gloom.

I couldn't have the news on 24/7, too depressing.

That's me too. Main news on BBC and follow up items of interest, and I do pop into I player most days.

I find the local news on the BBC after the main news often contains, "good news" items - and we need more.

I watch less than I used to - limit for well being!

I keep up, I don't know how I'd make sense of anything going on without a broader understanding of what's happening elsewhere in the world. I flip between the BBC and Sky to avoid the sports (in vain).
'

I didn’t think OP literally meant watch the TV news, rather that this lady had no knowledge of what was in the news, through any media source because she didn’t watch, listen to or read it. Maybe I misinterpreted.

Casdon

I didn’t think OP literally meant watch the TV news, rather that this lady had no knowledge of what was in the news, through any media source because she didn’t watch, listen to or read it. Maybe I misinterpreted.

That's how I interpreted it too. I'm an avid news 'junkie' - comes from years of being in that profession - but some people almost seem strangely proud of their lack of interest in what is going on in the world.