News overload isn’t just about readers – journalists need time out too

When people talk about news avoidance, they usually mean it’s something that readers and viewers are doing. But the producers of news are equally exposed to distressing headlines and imagery — and research shows it takes a measurable toll.

Psychology Today recently highlighted the idea of a “sensory diet” as a practical way to manage that exposure, and the concept may be as relevant to newsroom staff as it is to readers.

The approach is simple: track what you take in through sight, sound, touch, taste and movement, then design short, repeatable activities that either calm or alert you. Originally used for people with sensory-processing differences, it is now being adapted for adults to reduce anxiety and restore focus.

Studies after the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013 found that for many people heavy media consumption caused more acute stress than direct exposure to the attacks, leading researchers to recommend moderating media use and treating graphic imagery with caution. That is a clear warning for editors balancing the duty to inform with the risk of re-traumatising.

Practical steps for individuals and organisations

• Visual: Limit screen time before bed, dim lights and swap doomscrolling for benign imagery such as trees or short comedy clips. Blue light delays sleep onset, the Sleep Foundation notes.
• Auditory: Switch off rolling news audio when not needed; replace it with natural sounds. Meta-analysis shows nature sounds lower heart rate and blood pressure.
• Olfactory: Short bursts of scents like lavender can reduce anxious arousal, though evidence is still developing.
• Tactile and movement: Self-soothing touch, a short walk, yoga or rocking can lower cortisol responses to stress, according to randomised trials.

For newsrooms, which have traditionally revelled in their ability to deal with fast-moving and sometimes distressing events, occupational therapists stress that sensory diets should be optional and tailored, not a substitute for counselling or structural changes to workload.

But thinking of readers when making small editorial decisions — warnings before graphic content, limiting autoplay of traumatic clips, offering readers guidance on managing exposure — are evidence-based protections rather than paternalism.

In practice, a “personal dose” approach — five fewer minutes of news, a brief sensory pause, a nature sound break — can be a low-cost way to limit the physiological and psychological toll of constant coverage. For an industry grappling with news avoidance, the message is clear: it isn’t only readers who need relief.

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
✅ The narrative was published on August 18, 2025, making it highly fresh. No evidence of recycled content or prior publication found. The article is based on original research and provides new insights into managing news-induced stress.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
✅ All quotes are unique to this narrative, with no prior usage found. The language and phrasing are consistent with the author’s style, indicating originality.

Source reliability

Score:
10

Notes:
✅ The narrative originates from Psychology Today, a reputable organisation known for its evidence-based content. The author, Diane N. Solomon Ph.D., is a Harvard-trained writer and Yale-trained nurse-midwife, adding credibility to the report.

Plausability check

Score:
10

Notes:
✅ The claims made in the narrative are plausible and supported by references to reputable sources, including the Sleep Foundation and PubMed. The advice aligns with established psychological practices for managing stress related to news consumption.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
✅ The narrative is fresh, original, and originates from a reliable source. All claims are plausible and supported by credible references, indicating a high level of trustworthiness.