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National Public Radio (NPR) was relentlessly mocked by its audience after reporting on how readers can deal with the”shock to the system” that the “reality of the conflict” between Russia and Ukraine is inflicting on the world.
The publicly-funded news outlet coddled its readers with an article outlining “5 ways to cope with the stressful news cycle” on Friday which urged readers to “care” for themselves in between bravely reading reports on the war in Ukraine where people are taking up arms to protect themselves.
“Russia’s attack on Ukraine means there’s a stressful news cycle ahead of us. The reality of conflict is always a shock to the system,” the tweet sharing the article read.
“When the news is scary, it’s easy to get lost in our own heads. Reach out to loved ones instead. That could look like sitting down to write an actual letter to a relative, spending time with neighbors or playing games with family,” read one suggestion from author Andee Tagle.
The helplessly unaware article was met with a tsunami of backlash from fellow media pundits and readers alike.
Ukrainians are fighting for their lives, taking up arms, and building homemade Molotov cocktails to fight Russians who are invading their homes and your first thought is, “How can we comfort Americans who are watching the news from their couch 5,000 miles away.”
— Natalie Johnson (@nataliejohnsonn) February 25, 2022
Politico columnist Jack Shafer noted that the article was “The stupidest thing NPR has ever proposed, and that’s saying a lot.”
The stupidest thing NPR has ever proposed, and that’s saying a lot.
— Jack Shafer (@jackshafer) February 25, 2022
“I’m all for mental health awareness and therapeutic care. This thread provides for neither. It’s just a lifestyle guide for narcissists,” senior opinion editor for the Daily Beast, Anthony Fisher, replied.
NPR truly is Sesame Street for grownups
— ryan.s (@skeletmans) February 25, 2022
“These people really do not envision their audience as grown adults,” Dan McLaughlin, senior writer at National Review replied.
The Ukrainian government is handing out AK-47s and NPR is handing out listicles about holistic ways to alleviate your doomscrolling anxiety. https://t.co/ISShjjLNux
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) February 25, 2022
“This sort of discourse drives me absolutely bananas and I think it is a direct result of media being increasingly dominated by people from super-privileged backgrounds,” another person responded on social media.
A Yale professor of Social and Natural Science chimed in to blast the absurdity of the article that suggested readers “do what feels good for your body and helps you get out of your head” which included tips to deep clean or redecorate in an effort to destress from the news cycle.
Ukrainians: must cope with bombs raining down on them.
Americans: must cope with hearing sad news.
This is really a silly thing for a news organization to do, IMHO. https://t.co/Zx9qYDQzK2
— Nicholas A. Christakis (@NAChristakis) February 25, 2022
BBC presenter Simon Schama responded to the author’s suggestion to seek refuge in the kitchen as a “safe space” where readers can disconnect from the news by making “Grandpa’s famous lasagna.”
“make your grandpa’s lasagna” – this is pathetic and insulting. You NEED to be stressed and Distressed by atrocity, calamity and tragedy not breathe deeply and bury yourself in pasta. https://t.co/K1SfShAPhj
— Simon Schama (@simon_schama) February 25, 2022
Another social media tweet suggested that the author might want to check her fragility at the door, with a picture demonstrating what real stress might look like.
Ask this person about stress-
How do you measure up?https://t.co/6023IzA8hs
— Severely Clear (@Overratedmammal) February 25, 2022
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