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Bonus: From Doomscrolling to Civic Joy: How Local News Can Reconnect Us
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Why do we keep scrolling through headlines that only make us feel worse?
In this bonus episode of On Assignment, guest host Nari Han—a researcher who explores why people disengage from news and what brings them back—guides us through the emotional and behavioral terrain of doomscrolling. With insights from research at the University of California, Harvard Health, and the Steinman Institute, Han explains how our brains are wired for bad news—and how that constant exposure can leave us feeling anxious, disconnected, and even misanthropic.
But there’s a way out.
This episode explores how local journalism, solutions reporting, and creative engagement strategies are helping audiences move from information fatigue to civic joy. Han unpacks evidence-based approaches that rebuild trust, highlight community strengths, and foster participation—offering listeners practical steps to stay informed without becoming overwhelmed.
If you’ve ever felt consumed by the news but unsure how to break the cycle, this is the episode for you.
Produced by Robert Sterner for The Assignment Desk.
Next up on On Assignment: The Power of the Crowd: Reimagining Community Storytelling Submissions.
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