5 Things I Won’t Do After Working in Media

I’ve been a professional writer, editor, and content creator for 13 years. Over this time, I have worked in a newsroom at a regional newspaper, I currently edit for a respected magazine, and I have published thousands of articles in dozens of publications ranging from “voicey” hot takes to researched-based journalism. No one can convince me that any single media brand is bias-free and doesn’t have an agenda. And sure, not all agendas are bad, but when 56% of American adults report that the news causes them great stress or anxiety, it makes me pause to reflect on how I consume the news and news-related media.

After seeing how the great machine works—and how both marvelous and terrifying it can be—here are the five rules I have for posting online and consuming content to keep me sane and critically engaged.

I don't read opinion news.

When I read the news, I stick to the least biased sources I can find; Reuters, PBS News Hour, and Associated Press are my three favorite sources. And while it is important to understand that no news source is 100% bias-free, these three stand out as the closest you can get.

When I read from publishers like the New York Times, for example, I steer clear of the Opinion section and head straight for the profiles on artists and authors, recipes and word games, or what’s happening in international headlines. Why? Because the Opinion section is a print version of TikTok or Facebook, its entire purpose is to raise your blood…