An increasing number of people are avoiding the news, at least occasionally. In an interview with NDR Info on the topic of ‘news fatigue’, Julia Behre explains why this is happening and how newsrooms can address the issue.
Click here to listen to the radio segment (available in German only).
During the interview, Julia Behre refers to the findings of the 2026 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, whose German sub-study she led alongside Dr. Sascha Hölig. According to the report, 72 percent of adults in Germany actively avoid the news at least occasionally, and 15 percent do so frequently. One reason for this is that the news can affect one’s mood. Many people feel burdened by coverage of wars and conflicts, or are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. According to the report, nearly one in four people report experiencing this kind of news fatigue.
In order to continue reaching people without overwhelming them mentally, Julia Behre suggests various approaches to journalistic reporting:
- Examine topics from different perspectives to enable diverse approaches.
- Emphasize why it is important to report on a particular topic.
- Make reporting more constructive and solution-oriented.
Photo: Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash