As a media columnist, even I found myself turning away from the news in 2024. But we can do things differently | Jane Martinson

News avoidance around the world is at an all-time high, and growing.

At the start of this year , almost four in 10 people admitted that they sometimes or often actively avoided the news.

Researchers at Oxford University’s Reuters Institute heard from respondents that the news is too “depressing”, “relentless” or “boring” for them.

Just listen to international war crimes investigator Bill Wiley on Radio 4’s Today programme stressing the importance of evidence found by journalists in Syria . In a world of so much uncertainty and a sense of overwhelming powerlessness, accurate, fact-based news that engages with communities whether local or global has never been more important. Find time this Christmas to get into new news habits. I’m planning to so let me know your best advice. Turning the news off is not the answer. Here’s hoping for a happier and healthier new year. - Jane Martinson is a Guardian columnist.