I Start my Day with Frowns and Black Coffee.

The irritating buzz of my alarm clock goes off. I yawn, stretch, and enjoy the last couple seconds under my comforter. Monday morning, a whole week to go before the weekend. I get up, not fully there yet, my mind still trapped in blurry dreamland… I clumsily grab the remote control and turn on the TV, hoping that it will snap me out of my haze. The images begin to flash before my eyes. I am immediately aggressed by CNN, revealing the horrors of the day before. Is this really the way I want to start my day?

It seems like in a time where we are all more or less pressured, anxious, and afraid, all we hear on the news is provoking this feeling even more. Today for example, in big bold letters on the CNN website was the following article: “Man sought whose wife, 5 children killed”. Equally, on the New York Times homepage was the following two: “Federal Agents Arrest 3 Men in Terror Inquiry ” and "Search on for Man, whose wife, kids were killed"

Okay, granted, it is important to know what is happening around us. I just think it’s hypocritical. The media manages to manipulate us, choosing what we can or cannot hear. First of all, so much information is kept from the general audience; we barely hear a quarter of all the things that really happen in the world. But at the same time, many depressing, pessimistic, or morbid stories are still thrown at us, like the two above. Couldn’t there be more of a balance between positive and negative stories? I would love to hear about scientific progress, about advancements coming from organizations in order to fight cancer, global warming, or even hunger in the world…. We may not hear it every day, but many individuals and groups dedicate time and effort in order to make our world a better place.

I am not saying that it is not important for the media to communicate the horrors around us, it IS the media’s job after all. But when we wake up in the morning and turn on the TV, wouldn’t it be nice to be able smile once in a while and think “yes, there are some good people out there” ?