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Sensationalism has been around as long as there were printing presses. Do you remember the paperboys with their "read all about it" headlines of the 1940s and 1950s? Always it was about some scandal. For some reason as humans, we have a fascination for tragedy and drama. Take for instance the "looky-loos" that drive slowly by an accident or fire.

A few years back, I decided that I needed to quit watching CNN and other hourly services to lower my stress levels. The first few days, I had the urge to turn on the news station. I needed to know. It was my right to know what was going on in the world. I needed my drama fix.

As I weaned myself off my addiction, I learned that there was no need to watch the news because my friends and family would be the first ones to tell me the latest disaster. While they were watching, I was reading or writing. I had time to travel. I could blog or enjoy my Ipod.

I had more time for myself. And more importantly, my stress levels lowered. I was calmer. I became interested in my local newspaper. I could pass the headlines and read the special interest stories. I was more interested in the girl who was pulling together a toy drive for children in our area than the Darren Mack murder.

With this experiment, I learned a good lesson. I learned that some of that stress that I was carrying around, that was causing my high blood pressure, was caused by my willingness to be seduced by sensationalism.

Now, I can check my local T.V. broadcast for the weather without getting entranced by the Reno murders. I can talk to my husband about the serious need to be careful when I am out and about, but not scare myself silly thinking I am being stalked.

Yes, with the problems of a serial sex stalker in Reno, Nevada, it is a good idea for the news channels to warn women of the dangers of walking alone at night around the UNR campus. However, when does this need to warn becomes a need to sensationalize - to entice viewers?

When? Personally, I believe that when the same news is broadcast every hour for several days, then it has crossed the line into sensationalism.

I don't believe that I am burying my head in the sand when I refuse to watch such news. I know that reducing stress is necessary for my health. I am preventing a future heart attack. I am preventing a new flare from my disease.

It is not my right to know. My rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Learn more about this author, Cyn Bagley.
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