The Rise of Slow News: Why Deliberation Matters More Than Speed

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Fighting the Doomscrolling: Finding the Good News in a Packed World

We’re constantly bombarded. From the moment we wake up, our phones, our radios, our screens – they’re all vying for our attention with the latest crisis, the newest outrage. it’s enough to make our amygdalas, the ancient part of our brain designed to react to immediate threats like bears, go into overdrive.

Prehistoric humans, bless them, probably didn’t suffer from existential dread about distant mammoths or the long-term impact of a bad hunt. They dealt with immediate problems, responded to them, and then… moved on. They weren’t doom-cave painting.

And that’s why, in this era of constant connectivity and data overload, it’s so tempting to just switch off the news entirely. But for many of us, that’s not a sustainable solution. We certainly know the world’s issues are out there, and for some of us, a regular intake of news is as ingrained as our morning coffee. The problem is, it used to be manageable. A bulletin between our favourite soaps, a speedy scan of the headlines. Now? It’s just… too much.

This is something we’ve been grappling with ourselves. We’ve recently launched a new newsy podcast, A Few Scoops, with journalist Aoife Moore. Right from the outset, we knew we needed something to counter the relentless negativity. So, we made a conscious decision: every episode, we’d feature at least one good news story.

It felt like a natural instinct, but it turns out there’s science behind it. Research suggests that good news isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s genuinely beneficial for our mental health. It can lift our mood, help us feel more hopeful, and even inspire us to take action, effectively reminding our amygdalas that the world isn’t only full of bears.

The challenge, of course, is finding it. Good news is rarely loud or flashy. It’s often quiet, incremental, and takes a bit of digging. It doesn’t usually make the front page. in the early days of A Few Scoops, we were almost grasping at straws, proclaiming things like, “Good news! The Milky Way and Andromeda won’t collide for a few billion more years than we thought!”

So, we’ve started subscribing to dedicated good news newsletters. We’re hearing about EU air pollution falling faster than projected, a Spanish company crafting surfboards from recycled wind turbines, and even fungi being used to turn dirty nappies into compost. We’ve read about baby penguins receiving manicures so their keepers can tell them apart, and the heartening recovery of koala populations after devastating bushfires.

And the small stuff? Even discarded hotel soap is being diverted from landfill and recycled,rather than just disappearing into our washbags.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of bad news, remember that there is good happening. It might require a little more effort to find, but the reward – a more balanced perspective and a boost to your own well-being – is absolutely worth it.

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Listen to “A Few Scoops” with Aoife Moore and Colm every Wednesday on goloud or wherever you get your podcasts.

what are the primary drawbacks of the traditional, speed-focused news cycle?

The Acceleration of the News Cycle & Its Discontents

For decades, the news industry has been locked in a relentless pursuit of speed. From the advent of 24-hour cable news to the instant updates of social media, the demand for breaking news has only intensified. This constant churn, however, comes at a cost. the pressure to be first often overshadows the need for accuracy, context, and thoughtful analysis. this has fueled the rise of “slow news” – a movement advocating for more considered journalism. Terms like quality journalism,in-depth reporting,and investigative journalism are central to this shift.

What Is Slow News? Defining a New Approach

Slow news isn’t about ignoring current events. It’s about prioritizing depth over immediacy. It’s a conscious rejection of the rapid-fire,frequently enough superficial,coverage that dominates much of the media landscape. Key characteristics include:

Thorough Fact-Checking: A commitment to verifying information before publication, even if it means being slower to report.

Contextualization: Providing past background and broader societal implications, rather than isolated events. This addresses the need for news analysis and informed perspectives.

Multiple Sources: Relying on a diverse range of sources to ensure a balanced and nuanced understanding.

Long-Form Journalism: Embracing longer articles, documentaries, and podcasts that allow for detailed exploration of complex issues. Think long-read articles and narrative journalism.

Emphasis on Solutions: Moving beyond simply identifying problems to exploring potential solutions and positive developments. This is often referred to as constructive journalism.

The Impact of Speed: Errors, Sensationalism & Erosion of Trust

The relentless pursuit of speed has demonstrably negative consequences. Numerous studies have documented the proliferation of misinformation and the spread of “fake news” – frequently enough amplified by social media algorithms.

Increased Errors: Rushing to publish frequently enough leads to factual inaccuracies, requiring corrections and damaging credibility.

Sensationalism & Clickbait: The need to attract attention in a crowded media habitat incentivizes sensationalized headlines and emotionally charged reporting. This impacts media literacy and critical thinking.

decreased Public Trust: A constant stream of errors and biased reporting erodes public trust in the media. The Edelman Trust Barometer consistently shows declining trust in mainstream media.

Superficial Understanding: Rapid-fire updates rarely allow for a deep understanding of complex issues, leading to a fragmented and incomplete picture of the world. this hinders critical analysis of events.

The Benefits of Purposeful Journalism

Choosing slow news offers notable advantages for both individuals and society:

Enhanced Understanding: In-depth reporting provides a more complete and nuanced understanding of complex issues.

Improved Decision-Making: Informed citizens are better equipped to make sound decisions about their lives and communities.

Greater Civic Engagement: A deeper understanding of societal challenges can inspire greater civic engagement and participation.

Reduced Anxiety & Information Overload: Focusing on quality over quantity can reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed by constant news updates. This promotes digital wellbeing.

Strengthened Democracy: A well-informed electorate is essential for a healthy democracy.

Examples of Slow News Initiatives

The slow news movement is gaining momentum globally. Several organizations are leading the way:

Slow Journalism: A Netherlands-based organization promoting in-depth, contextualized reporting.

Tortoise Media (UK): A “slow news” platform that focuses on fewer, more critically importent stories, with a strong emphasis on member engagement.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (UK): Dedicated to long-form investigative reporting on issues of public interest.

ProPublica (US): An self-reliant, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.

Practical Tips for Consuming Slow News

You don’t need to overhaul your entire news consumption habits to benefit from slow news. Here are a few practical tips:

1. Diversify Your Sources: don’t rely on a single news outlet. Seek out a variety of sources with different perspectives.
2. Prioritize Long-form Content: Make time to read longer articles, listen to podcasts, and watch documentaries.
3. Be Critical of Headlines: Don’t judge a story solely by its headline.Read the full article before forming an opinion.
4. Fact-Check Information: Verify information from multiple sources before sharing it. Utilize fact-checking websites like Snopes and PolitiFact.
5. Limit Your News Intake: Set boundaries for how much time you spend consuming news each day. Consider a news detox periodically.
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