Many years ago, Jodie Jackson found herself in a deep depression.  As she worked to identify the causes her deteriorating mental health, she realized it had a lot to do with her excessive and indiscriminate consumption of news and information.  In the years since, she’s become a recognized expert on media literacy and a passionate advocate for understanding and managing our intake of news to protect our mental health. 

Chapters: 

01:12 Introducing Jodi Jackson 
Jodie Jackson, an expert in the psychological impact of news on mental health, shares her background and the motivation behind her work in constructive journalism. 

02:27 The Personal Journey to Understanding News Impact 
Jodie recounts her personal experience with anxiety and panic attacks, linking them to her news consumption, and how she sought out positive stories to shift her perspective. 

05:39 Understanding Negativity Bias 
The conversation shifts to the concept of negativity bias, exploring how media exploits our natural inclination towards negative news and its effects on our perception of reality. 

10:15 Historical Context and Perspective 
Jodie and Bill discuss the importance of historical context in understanding current events, emphasizing that our perception of the present can often be skewed by the news. 

13:01 The Power of Positive News 
Jodie highlights the transformative power of focusing on positive news, drawing parallels between news consumption and dietary habits for mental health. 

14:29 Exploring Cognitive Biases 
The discussion delves into cognitive biases like availability bias and confirmation bias, illustrating how they shape our beliefs and perceptions based on the information we consume. 

20:15 The Role of Media Algorithms 
Jodie explains how modern media algorithms reinforce our biases by curating content that aligns with our existing beliefs, making it crucial to be aware of our media consumption habits. 

25:31 Staying Informed Without Overwhelm 
Addressing concerns about staying informed, Jodie offers strategies to consume news mindfully, balancing negative and positive content to foster resilience. 

30:00 The Importance of Staying Informed 
Jodie emphasizes the need to stay informed while maintaining mental resilience against negative news.  

31:20 Batching News Consumption