I tend to keep an eye on the global stuff to around the same extent as the local news; I am however not an avid news watcher. I listen to the BBC podcast every couple of days and read some of the local stuff every day or so.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I read news a lot less than I used to. Lemmy is now my main source of news.

I used to read the news every day, but find I gained nothing from it. Anything major I still know about because of Lemmy.

[–] absGeekNZ@lemmy.nz 5 points 1 year ago

Lemmy (used to be reddit) helps with what to pay attention to.

[–] Ozymati@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Need to replace the "news" with info from sources that impact you. Lemmy has no idea what stupidity or genius your local council or the various ministries might be getting up to.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The main trigger for moving away from news was the realisation that mainstream media is no less susceptible to propoganda and misinformation that anyone else when it comes to unfolding events.

So I read a lot more about events after the fact, once sources and facts have been sorted out.

In terms of stupid councils and ministries, I'm sure anything major I'll find out about from others. When it comes to voting for council, the only real control I have over what they do, I've taken to researching candidates to make a decision (in the past I'd just read the blurbs in the voting papers).

I also read and participate in council long term planning, when asked for opinions on where to spend money.

[–] SamC@lemmy.nz 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Tend to focus more on local news, although do pay attention to the rest of the world.

We have our problems in NZ, but they are nothing like the complete clusterfuck that is most of the rest of the world. So local news is a little more tolerable.

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Its a quick break from work to read the chaos. I think I'm relatively up to date. But the recent Israel Gaza thing has left me thinking I should distance myself. I follow a leftist / te pati Instagram channel that has since proven to be completely biased and dishonest. It enrages me when I'm seeing blatent disregard for evidence and the Palestinian people in favour of pushing their anti Israel narrative, and everyone getting on the emotional high for the ride.

Its not even worth fighting for truth, because I'm just one rational person arguing with people filled with irrational hate. I think its bad for my mental and emotional health.

I think I'm going to pay less attention and just focus on things I enjoy instead.

[–] thevoyagekayaking@lemmy.nz 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Everyone involved in that conflict seems to be utterly terrible, it seems.

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 5 points 1 year ago

Exactly, it's two evil sides fighting each other with the civilians (mostly Palestinian) getting fucked over by both sides. But people have to choose a side to cheer for.

[–] evanuggetpi@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 year ago

I used to check the news multiple times per day. Eventually I gave up when I realised it wasn't great for my mental health. Now I allow myself to look through the Guardian every Sunday, and get NZ news from Lemmy and Google stories on my Android phone.

[–] liv@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago

Probably about 50-50.

I'm making it my mission this year to focus more on actual global news, not just news from the usual English-speaking west and their pet interest topics. So far it's confusing.

[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago

I follow global news 10x more than local news. By the nature of the content I watch I end up learning a lot about issues in the us and Europe and not much about nz.