If ever there was a time for a collective breather, I believe this is that time. The fiery rhetoric from all sides seems as intense as I can recall. The barrage of media vying for clicks, likes, attention, and, of course, money recently left me reeling with anxiety and apathy. It wasn’t a place I wanted to be in, and after a little reflection, it dawned on me that it wasn’t a place I had to remain. I also realized that I wanted to try to facilitate such a collective breather, and so the idea for Media Blackout Week began. You can get more details on what personally started all this for me here. I’d like to accomplish three things through Media Blackout Week: experience a media detox of sorts, send a message to the media outlets that we aren’t so easily swayed, and have you join me.
Media Detox
Over time, the toxicity of our media culture becomes commonplace, and the effect it has on us can go undetected. We likely find ourselves on a media merry-go-round of controversy that isn’t quite so merry. Perhaps unexplained anxiety has become a part of our daily lives. Maybe the perpetual frenzy impacts other areas. A one-week break might give us a glimpse into how much this constant connected state does affect us and help us forge a better path forward.
Sending a Message
Advertising dollars go towards our projected clicks, purchases, and attention. The presumption is that the trends will hold and we will be held captive by the chatter. What if we could send the message that we’re not told or sold what to think? It doesn’t matter if you come from a liberal, conservative, or middle-ground perspective. Either way, the media prepares their material to meet the demand of their regular consumers. My aim is not to send a political message, but a cultural one. I want to let the various media outlets know that we are very much capable of independent thought and that none of them have the power they think they do.
Join Me
To send a message, enough of us will need to unplug to create a blip in the analytics. So, I invite you to join me in disconnecting from social media, television, radio, and online mediums from September 30th, 2018 to October 6th, 2018. For that week, emphasize connecting in person rather than online. Finish reading a book that you’ve put off. Take naps. Avoid the news and pundits. Limit screen time as much as possible. Grab coffee with an old friend. Wrap up an unfinished project around the house. I’d like to read a Star Trek novel because I rarely get to read fiction these days. Would you join me?
Media Blackout Week is not a political statement or an ideological movement. It is merely my effort for us to hit the pause button and do a little self-reflection. Hopefully, the result will be many with a bit more balance in their lives amidst the chaos. If the various media outlets saw a decline in engagement during that week, that would undoubtedly be a bonus; however, we wouldn’t know until October 7th.
You can add your name to the participation form below.