News these days may be depressing but here's why it's important to keep yourself informed

News these days is sad and depressing. While it's so tempting to shut it out and lead a "positive vibes only" kind of a life, GMA News journalists Winnie Monsod, Susan Enriquez and Kara David reminded everyone why it's important to stay abreast, especially during a pandemic.

In a Zoom media conference with the press on Wednesday, Monsod began saying, "you have to keep informed because how are you going to make decisions if you don't get the correct information?"

The veteran journalist will host the upcoming Monday show "Newsmakers," where she will be disseminating information to help people make their own decisions in their everyday lives.

"I'm not trying to convince them to do something," she told the press. "You're just giving them enough information so they can make a rational decision." 

Kara David meanwhile reasoned: "Nawawala [ba] yung problema kapag hindi mo siya alam? It's still there 'di ba?" 

Kara, who will be hosting "Bright Side" highlighted a very important fact of the news gathering process. Unlike blogs or social media, news producers weed through so much information, editing and vetting them, before it makes it out to print or to broadcast. 

"May gatekeepers na alam nila — kasi ngayon ang daming impormasyon na hindi mo alam kung anong totoo at ano ang hindi totoo," she said.

"At least when you watch the news on TV makakasigurado ka na merong mga strict gate-keeping principles yung mga news producers na yung lalabas na news sa telebisyon," she added.

Susan Enriquez admitted to hearing a lot of people say they're afraid to consume news now but she counters, "mas kailangan nilang manuod ngayon." 

Like Monsod, Enriquez says watching the news  will not only keep people informed, it will also tell them "yung mga dapat nilang gawing pag-iingat." 

Enriquez, who will host "Pera Paraan" suggests for people to balance out their information and entertainment diet. "Pwede mo naman i-combine yun eh. Ang news naman usually mga 1 or 1 and 1/2 hours sa gabi, the rest of the day pwede ka na manuod ng shows na mae-entertain ka dapat," she said.

"Dapat babalansehin mo rin kasi sa panahon ngayon. Dapat informed ka kung ano yung dapat mong gawin na pag-iingat sa sarili mo, sa pamilya mo, sa paligid mo dahil nga dito sa COVID-19 pandemic na ito." — LA, GMA News