I do watch the news media but with a healthy amount of cynicism and I would go so far as to say outright mistrust.
Here in the UK, Channel 4 news at 7pm is better than most but still has to be viewed with scepticism.An example that ,unusually for me, had me phone the bastards up to rant at them for there reporting was an interview with an alleged Taliban-recruit who was due for a suicide mission but got caught before he managed to 'do the deed'.The interview was conducted in Urdu with a voice-over translation in English.The question posed was "And when you were getting close to your target what were you thinking?Were you going to do it?".He clearly stated in Urdu "I wasnt sure" but the voice-over translated it as "Yes, I would definetly do it".
I think its important to consult several sources on any news story before reaching any conclusions and it seems to me the truth tends to be a distillate of several view-points.Good old John Pilger has written extensively about how the news media serves vested interests much more than the public and I agree with him on this.
I am paranoid of my brain. It thinks all the time, even when I'm asleep. My thoughts assail me. Murderous lechers they are. Thought is the assassin of thought. Like a man stabbing himself with one hand while the other hand tries to stop the blade. Like an explosion that destroys the detonator. I am paranoid of my brain. It makes me unsettled and ill at ease. Makes me chase my tail, freezes my eyes and shuts me down. Watches me. Eats my head. It destroys me.