Magpies and the media
Sometimes I read things I wish I hadn't read.
Hey friends,
There are always magpies in the park opposite my home. I see them pacing about whenever I cross the park. I’ve never minded them too much—you do hear stories about them being nasty, but they’ve never bothered me.
But the other day, I noticed a sign in the corner of the park. It was from the City Council.
Swooping. Sounds creepy doesn’t it? A magpie looked at me from afar while I read the sign. Will he swoop?
Although I’ve never had a problem with the magpies, after seeing that sign, I can’t help but think about them whenever I walk across the park. What if they swoop? Are they about to attack? Evil little things
That magpie sign is similar to some news stories I see.
If you've been following my newsletter for a while, you know I have a turbulent relationship with news media.
Throughout COVID, I was extremely connected to the news, receiving push notifications for every headline and instant tweet notifications from heaps of journalists. The news really consumed my life.
After the COVID peak, at University, we were told by lecturers (shoutout Margalit - thanks for reading 😉) to read the news every single day. In public relations, it’s essential we’re across the news to be effective practitioners, they said. My high news consumption continued.
I enjoyed the thrill of the breaking news and information overload that the COVID times gave me. And Margalit’s right, understanding the media plays a big part of being in good comms person.
But I don’t think all news is good to know about.
Or at least, not all news is good to consume immediately, at your fingertips, while you’re doing other things, while full of biases, errored implications, and scaremongering.
A lot of news stories I see are like that magpie sign. They make me feel things I don’t want or need to feel, and make me think about things I don’t want or need to be thinking about.
For example, I’ve never been too worried about crime. I know crime exists everywhere, and I’m fairly vigilant and take various precautions across everyday life—but I’ve been fortunate enough to hardly ever worry about my safety.
But when I read the news regularly, I see heaps of stories about crime. Now, I'm much more cautious when out and about. Despite the actual risk, they me feel a bit more anxious. If I notice any slightly suspicious activity, I assume the worst. After seeing the headlines, the outside world seems a bit more doom and gloom.
I already know crime exists and act accordingly, so I don't need to see those headlines every day. They only manipulate my emotions and my mind. Like the magpie sign, they doesn’t do me any good.
I’m trying to be aware and intentional about the news I consume these days. Our lives are shaped by what we fill our minds with—what we choose to do, who we hang out with, where we go, and what information we absorb. We can try to craft what we fill our brains with, to push us in the right direction and expand our Luck Radius.
Sometimes the news is just gross.
The media often pushes me away through their ickyness. Too often, public interest blurs with harassment and breach of privacy.
This week, media reported that former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman was accused of shoplifting at an Auckland Pak’nSave. It was the leading headline of the day, largely because the alleged incident took place in the weeks before she was due to appear at the High Court for shoplifting clothing from a high-end fashion store.
Despite being no longer a Member of Parliament and removing herself from public life, and having faced so many threats and abuse from misogynists and racists during her time as an MP, the media broadcasts the allegations loudly.
Golriz being diagnosed with complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Prolonged Duress Stress Disorder doesn’t stop the media from crossing a line. Here is what I saw in one of the articles:
Ghahraman is not at her Auckland home, her flatmate and tenant told the Herald.
”I think she’s out of town with friends,” he said.
Another neighbour said he saw Ghahraman at her home on Monday.
He said her car was parked in one of a handful of allocated street parks that day but he hadn’t seen her or her car since.
Why am I reading this? Why is someone knocking on the front door of her home, the one place that should be safe and private?
People don’t need to know if she’s been at her home or not. We don’t need quotes from her flatmates or neighbours. It’s just gross.
I hope that more journalists use their platforms for good.
Beware of the magpies,
Ben x
P.S Some of you noticed that you didn’t receive a newsletter from me last week - thanks for noticing, that’s so sweet! I did write and publish a newsletter last week, I just forgot to click the button to send it to you via email - whoops! You can find it here if you’re curious.
✍🏻 Quote of the week
"Caring about everything is a disaster. Caring about nothing is also a disaster.
Nurture the small pocket of things that truly matter to you."
By James Clear in his newsletter 3-2-1 Thursdays.
👀 Interesting finds this week
📊 Study - World Economic Forum forecasts AI workplace surge. The World Economic Forum just released its 2025 Future of Jobs Report, revealing AI's dramatic impact on the workforce. Technology adoption is surging, with 86% of companies expecting AI to transform their operations by 2030. Three-quarters of organisations plan to upskill existing employees for AI collaboration, while 70% aim to hire new staff with AI experience. Half of companies expect to reorient their business around AI opportunities, while 40% anticipate reducing workforce size as AI capabilities grow.
📰 News - Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline. The Supreme Court unanimously voted to uphold the TikTok ban, citing a concern for national security. The Biden administration will defer implementation of the law to the Trump administration. It’s up to President-elect Donald Trump on whether or not to enforce the law once he takes office on Monday. Trump is reportedly considering an executive order that would suspend the enforcement of the TikTok ban for 60 to 90 days, giving the new administration time to renegotiate a sale or another solution.
🎶 Music - Here are 10 songs I’ve been playing on repeat this week.
