“I never watch the News’.

I think it's important to watch the News. It is true some channels tend to sensationalise some stories but we should know what's going on in our own country and around the world.

How can we vote or become involved in local issues if we haven't got a clue what's going on?

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.

I thought the same.

I dislike 'watching' the news, I hear it, but very rarely 'watch' as much news is too upsetting to 'watch' - I hear the words, that is enough, I'm knowledgeable to the current news of the world.

I know upsetting pictures are difficult, I protect my mental health.

Hetty58

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).

It probably meant very much to your mother to be well-informed about the world she lived in. As long as you are alive, what goes on in the world is relevant to your thought processes, and sometimes even the decisions you might make.

Kudos to her!

I trained as a journalist. I watched all the news programs, read all the papers (working in a newsroom, I had access to them all) And now I only ever listen to the News on the radio in the car. I get the general gist of what’s going on from SM and if something interests me then I follow it up. But I don’t watch news and I no longer read newspapers other than occasionally online.

I just dont understand how can folk make informed choices for example about political parties if the news isnt followed? Surely we should be interested in happenings in our own country and also what is happening around the world?

I find BBC news more reliable than most others and certainly more so than the Daily Wail. Channel 4 news is interesting but one has to remember its bias towards campaigning. I find Newsnight and some others a rehash of the news with some half-baked and opinionated interviews.

It’s up to the individual as to how well informed they want to be. If they wish to ignore what is going on and live in blissful ignorance well I don’t really blame them.The only time I get annoyed is when they turn up at a polling station to vote.

I find it strange that some people don’t watch or read the news. How can you hope to be informed about things that directly (and indirectly) affect you if you stick your head in the sand?

Does this thread literally mean watching the news, as on tv? I thought it meant keeping up at least a cursory knowledge of what is going on in the world, So for example,if you had had a holiday in Ukraine booked to start on 24th February last year, you would have been aware of what was happening in that country in the run upto that date and would have rethought your plans.

I am sorry if this offends some, butI think to say you do not watch, listen or read, because it is all bad news is the cowards way out. We all live on the same planet and are equal in our humanity and we should never cut ourselves off from other human beings because the terrible lives they live upset us

Upset us! - they are having to live them. In Ukraine, North Korea and iran among others.

On the other hand, we also hear of life's great successes. Those who triumph over disaster, willingly go into terrible situations to help their fellow humans, British doctors in Turkey after the earth quakes, rescuing civilians in Syria, struggling in Sudan to feed the starving.

Oh I took it literally as watching the news on tv.

I stand by my post that tv news had just become another entertainment.

I prefer written reports that are as factual as possible.

Though that’s not easy to find

I can't imagine why some people never watch or read the news. To me it's important to know what's going on , both here and in the world. Also, those sort of people can seem a bit boring, imho.

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.

Thanks Casdon and Blondiescot.

As the OP, that’s precisely what I meant, not literally watching the tv news, they just didn’t get involved with news in any shape or form.

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.

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.

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).
'

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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?

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.