I Quit the News for a Year. Here's What I Listen to Now.
Goodbye, anger. Hello, news.
“I just don’t know who I can trust anymore. Where do you get your news?”
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that, I could go on a nice vacation! I’m not sure that 24/7 news outlets are a good thing for the world. A few years ago, I had a moment in which I realized I was overstressed, overstimulated, anxious, and always angry. I decided to take a step back from social media and news. I closed most of my social media accounts and ignored the two I didn’t cancel. And I shut off all my news feeds… for a year.
Admittedly, the first few weeks were tough. I went through something akin to withdrawal. But a few months after kicking news and social media out of my life, my anger level decreased significantly. I was less stressed, sleeping better, and didn’t live in a state of constant worry. I felt more present with my family, more hopeful about life, more aware of my neighbors, and more excited about how God was moving in the church I served as a pastor.
I have never really reengaged with social media beyond following a fishing group’s posts every once in a blue moon. However, I eventually reintroduced the news—carefully. I wanted to find a source that I could trust and one that didn’t only report doom and gloom.
I found WORLD. I could tell you about WORLD news, but I will let the organization speak for itself.
“WORLD produces sound journalism, grounded in facts and biblical truth. Through print magazines, online articles, and podcast programs, our trained journalists report on current events both global and national so that readers and listeners can see how God is at work in the world, no matter the headlines.”
I first discovered WORLD through their daily news podcast, The World and Everything In It. Each episode is about 35–40 minutes long and is as professional in quality as any big network news. Major stories from the US and around the world are reported, along with regular special segments on Supreme Court cases, economics, politics, and culture, all from a biblical worldview. Additionally, the podcast frequently has human-interest stories that are inspiring and stir my heart to praise our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. As a parent, one of the most helpful segments is the weekly arts and entertainment review of major movies, shows, and music. If Collin Garbarino, the Arts and Culture Editor, says a movie or show is good, I’ve found it’s almost always worth watching!
The World and Everything In It is a free podcast. And WORLD’s website also has a ton of print stories available free. I listen to WORLD news most mornings. And then I ignore the news for the rest of the day. As for the big networks and subscription-based spinoffs, I’ve found they’re not worth my time—or my money. Where do you get your news?