“To read a newspaper is to refrain from reading something worthwhile. The first discipline of education must therefore be to refuse resolutely to feed the mind with canned chatter.” – Aleister Crowley

“Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock.” – Ben Hecht

“I do not take a single newspaper, nor read one a month, and I feel myself infinitely the happier for it.” – Thomas Jefferson

Update: Steve Pavlina has a bit to say on overcoming news addiction.

Productivity tip: throw away your TV and unsubscribe to the newspaper and weekly/monthly news magazines to keep your time and energy free for what’s really important in life.