By Emma Spencer, Science & Technology Reporter
After nearly three decades behind a Bay Area morning news desk, longtime KRON TV anchor Darya Folsom walked away from the job with a message that caught a lot of people off guard.
“I’m done spreading the news,” she said in a recent interview. “Don’t start your day with the news because while you think it’s helping you be a better person, it’s actually killing you.”
For 27 years Folsom woke up at 3 a.m. to deliver crime stories, disasters, political fights, and emergencies into viewers homes. Over time she said the routine began to feel harmful not only for the audience but for her as well. When she finally stopped consuming morning news herself she described the shift as life changing.
Her story resonates because millions of people start their day the same way. They roll over grab their phones and take in a flood of negativity before they even get out of bed. Folsom’s departure puts words to something many already feel but rarely say.
The science behind headline stress
Mental health experts have warned for years that constant exposure to distressing news impacts the human nervous system. Research shows that people who repeatedly check headlines are more likely to experience intrusive thoughts anxiety irritability and a persistent feeling of being overwhelmed. The combination of dramatic stories and nonstop updates keeps the body in a state of alert long after the phone is set down.
Doomscrolling a term that became widely used during the pandemic describes the habit of compulsively refreshing news feeds for more negative information. Studies show it raises stress levels disrupts sleep elevates blood pressure and overstimulates the brain to the point where normal life begins to feel flat or unfocused.
Negative news and mental health
International research following hundreds of adults for an entire year found that consuming large amounts of negative news increased both anxiety and depression in the short term and in the long term. The more frequently someone immersed themselves in negative coverage the worse their symptoms became. Mental health experts say the problem is not being informed. It is the volume tone and timing of modern news cycles.
Folsom’s experience reflects what the research shows
When Folsom stopped starting her mornings with the news she said she felt calmer more centered and more aware of the good in her life. Her experience mirrors what researchers have documented for years. People who set boundaries around news consumption often report better emotional stability and lower stress.
She is not telling people to stop paying attention to the world. Her message is simpler. The first thing you put in your mind each morning shapes the way the rest of the day feels.
A different way to start the day
For many people keeping up with every headline feels like a responsibility. But the evidence suggests that beginning each morning with a stream of alarming stories may do more harm than good. A quieter start to the day may leave people better prepared to engage with the world rather than exhausted before the day even begins.
Folsom’s exit from the anchor chair is a reminder that the effects of the modern news cycle extend far beyond the viewers. Even those delivering the headlines are questioning what it does to them. Her experience raises a simple question for the rest of us. If the way we begin the morning is shaping our stress levels then maybe it is time to rethink the routine.
Emma Spencer
Grounded in faith, sharp in mind. Emma covers science, tech, and bioethics—digging into AI, genetics, and the choices shaping our future.
