To put it lightly, America is going through a bit of a rough patch right now. So much so that a lot of Americans can hardly bare to watch the evening news or peruse their local paper as they sip their morning coffee.
Across the country, people are in constant distress over the current state of our union. They fear for their freedoms and their futures. As a coping mechanism and a form of self-care, many Americans have resorted simply to shielding themselves from all forms of news. Although we can certainly see where they are coming from with this preventative action, we think there is a better solution: Mix in some humor.
Anything can seem dark and intimidating when it is received in a monotonous, serious tone. Unfortunately, this is the way most serious media outlets relay news to the public. This, of course, is not their fault. Some news — most news, really — needs to be delivered in this way. It’s the way that journalists and newscasters have been taught to present news since the beginning of time. Plus, who would have expected that in 2017 we’d be living in a world where nearly all news is bad news for someone?
As journalists, we are in a tight spot when it comes to this. We can’t avoid the news. Ever. Since we can’t pretend it doesn’t exist, we’ve learned that sometimes it’s better to laugh at it.
Needless to say, we all spend a lot of time consuming news from serious and well-respected media outlets like The New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. However, we’ve learned it is just as important to consume news that is slightly less professional.
TV shows like “Saturday Night Live,” “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” have been a godsend to us. Reading articles from jovial websites like “The Onion” have provided to us the comic relief we desperately need. Basically, without these heroes constantly poking fun at America’s dark reality, we probably would have all fallen into a deep, dark hole of depression by now.
We feel the need to clarify at this point that getting your information solely from comedy news sources is definitely not a good idea. You need a base that is factual, balanced and provides you with the necessary knowledge you need to fully understand current events and America’s political climate. If you only pay attention to these sorts of whimsical news sources, you won’t get all the information you need and you certainly won’t get balanced news.
Comedy is key in times of upset and anxiety, and America’s current state is no exception to the old adage. Having the news explained in a comedic way is comforting and calming. It helps people feel less alone, and it gives people a chance to laugh at themselves for some of their more ludicrous anxieties. Basically, it’s all about self-care and your mental health, and it’s a whole lot cheaper than therapy.
If you’ve been avoiding comedy news because you’re worried about falling down the fake news rabbit hole, remember that comedy news is not fake news. Comedy news is meant to be funny and can oftentimes come out slanted or biased, but it usually offers only factual information. And, just like journalistic news, look at both sides. Take liberal comedy alongside conservative comedy (and point us in the direction of good conservative comedians while you’re at it — no, Jeff Foxworthy doesn’t count).
Please, dear reader, if you find yourself avoiding news at all costs, give comedy news a try. A good laugh is exactly what America needs right now.
