news coverage.

i feel like this topic has been talked about a lot... but i just cannot get it off my mind recently.
it seems like these days, more and more, the news that is covered is all negative.
i hardly ever watch the news, or check news webpages because when i do,
all i see are stories about heartache, robberies, car accidents, murders...

i feel like that intent of 'news' was to give information to the public.
to empower us with information about what is going on around us.
that being said,
i don't think that hearing about a couple who decided they wanted to kill someone
for fun
is something that i need to hear about.
{yes, that is the latest news story that i saw last night}

i think that news stories like the one above give power to evil people.
i think that news stories like the one above poison our minds...
they give ideas to others who may choose to do the same thing, or something even worse.
they create a sense of paranoia...at least i know they do for me... and i'm sure i am not alone.

so where is the fine line between reporting news stories to keep people informed,
and reporting news stories for the shock and awe value?

i don't have the answer.
and until there is an answer, i'll stay away from the news.
i guess if something really important happens i will hear about it...
you may think i am crazy, or ignorant, or careless for doing this, and that is ok with me.
i just cannot stand to see another article about another innocent person being murdered.
i.just.cant.