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The Way to Ensure You Stay Stupid and Uninformed is to Stop Reading the Newspaper

By
Real Estate Agent with Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker DRE #00697006

I read something online the other day that said the way to avoid negative crap in an agent's life is to stop reading the newspaper. The article went on to say that newspapers only report bad news to sell newspapers. It went so far as to repeat, and offered up as proof: "If it bleeds, it leads." Which was never said about newspapers in the first place -- that phrase is in reference to television news.

Are people really this naive?

Newspapers report the news. That's what a newspaper journalist does. A journalist is fair and objective. and does not take sides. There is no "point" to make. The days of hawking newspapers on the street are pretty much over, except for maybe rush hour traffic in Chicago. Most people these days subscribe to the newspaper, so publishers aren't going to sell more newspapers because of a headline.

This is what we need in this country, more people who don't read the news. Because if you're a real estate agent talking to clients, you can bet your clients are reading the news. If you want to come across an uninformed or ignorant, why, you can get all of your news from FOX-TV. Yeah, that's the ticket.

I've got news for ya. The way to avoid negative crap in your life is to step over it or go around it.

 

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Weintraub and Wallace Realtors

 

 

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Elizabeth Weintraub is co-partner of Weintraub & Wallace Team of Top Producing Realtors, an author, home buying expert at The Balance, a Land Park resident, and a veteran real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown, Carmichael and East Sacramento, as well as tract homes in Elk Grove, Natomas, Roseville and Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put our combined 80 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at RE/MAX Gold. DRE License # 00697006.

Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of RE/MAX Gold. Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice; it could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.

Comments(38)

Travis Turner
Turner Associates | Colorado Springs, Co | 719.244.3645 - Colorado Springs, CO

Depends on the newspaper, there are good ones and bad ones. It also matters who your client it, we need to read what they read. If your client is baby boomer, then yes, read the paper. If you your client is under 35 then get quick hits on line.

Nov 28, 2011 02:22 AM
Judi Monday
RE/MAX Valley Properties - Green Valley, AZ
CRS-Green Valley AZ Expert, Green Valley Arizona R

I think everything in moderation and have to say when I am bombarded with negative input, I become that way myself.  While I consider myself to be an intelligent and informed person, I do not let myself get lost in all the negativity that is in the news. 

Nov 28, 2011 02:35 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

This blog is proof that you can lead a horse to water . . . but you can't make him spell.

Hi Marti -- Yes, we are not alone. That's why I wrote it. Because after reading what I read, I felt that if I didn't say something, I was endorsing it. I never want to be part of the problem when I can be part of the solution.

Hey Travis -- Because the papers we read online are so much different than the ones we hold in our hand!!

Nov 28, 2011 02:37 AM
Dan Pinson
International Realty Partners - Phoenix, AZ
Broker,ABR,GRI,RSPS,SFR,TRC

Most newspapers these days are just BAD. They recycle UPI/AP/Blogged stories. Actual journalism and investigative reporting seems to be a lost art. When you see grammatical and factual errors, plus a writer grinding a specific political axe, then you know the story is worthless or is an op-ed piece at best. I spend most of my time rebutting what a newspaper says since it's often just not accurate.

Nov 28, 2011 03:43 AM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Elizabeth

What was that song again that says "accentuate the positive"....

Because real estate is local, then we should focus on information that our buyers and sellers should know about at the local level by providing statistics regarding the movement in our local markets, and put them in perspective. More foreclosures mean more opportunities for buyers to get good deals.

Nov 28, 2011 03:43 AM
Bob Willis
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Orange, CA
Orange County & L.A. County Real Estate Agent

I am glad to hear someone else say that it is important to read the news and be informed.  So many real estate gurus say not to read the news, to stay positive and ignore reality.  It is important, and our duty as good citizens, to be informed about the affairs of the world.  Great post.

Nov 28, 2011 03:44 AM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Most people get their news in 30 second sound bites, so its understandable that the majority of people are misinformed, yet with few exceptions every news announcer has their bias and by their tone of voice or body language usually indicates which way they are leaning, left or right. The newspaper in paper form is going away eventually as we evolve. 

Nov 28, 2011 03:57 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I wrote a blog post about avoiding the negativity in the news and remaining positive.  It came from my years of living in a war zone.  It was the same news, day in and day out, but yet nothing local.  I took a stand then, and I stand behind the decision today.  I have always stayed away from topics such as Politics, Sex and Religion - is there anything else that I'm missing in the news?    Oh yes, the financial news. It is like global gossip; only the negative and nasty gets passed on!

Like comment #24 says, focus on the LOCAL activity, especially for real estate.  And by the way, I am Canadian so my personal Real Estate business is not affected by your negative news stories.  (other than the increasing numbers of Buyers crossing the border to escape the chaos south of us)  My pipeline is full and business is booming. 2011 has been a great year and I'm excited about 2012.   Many of the doom-sayers in my office can't say the same.  They believe what they read in the papers.

There will always be people who are news driven and I'm happy to say, there will always be people like me,  who fully understand that intelligence is not based merely on current events.  We live and thrive in our own communities and know that if disaster strikes, there will be a news junkie only ready, willing and able to pass it on.  We hope for the best and plan for the worst.

Nov 28, 2011 04:22 AM
Kate Akerly
Kaminsky Group - Manhattan Beach, CA
Manhattan Beach Residential Sales

I totally agree with the assertion that reading is imperative to the success of agents.  In fact, I read for a full hour every morning before I leave for the office - the trades, WSJ, Crains, Forbes, local blogs, AR, etc.  However, there are certainly papers that are a waste of time, and I'm not just referring to the tabloids.  The papers that focus on light, airy business/real estate news are a waste of time if you're actually reading it because you work in an idustry affected by economic news.  Stick to those that cater to professionals like some of the ones I mentioned above.

Nov 28, 2011 04:49 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

I still get the newspaper, it's my first read of the day. How else to learn what is going on in MY neighborhood?

Nov 28, 2011 06:34 AM
Lehel Szucs
All Seasons Real Estate, Inc. - Covina, CA
REALTOR of choice

I agree with you.  As much as I believe that all news is biased based on the bias of the publishing paper, it is still important to read as much as possible because our clients do.  I read as much as I can so I am aware of what my clients and potential clients are reading and hearing from the media.  This gives me the opportunity to educate them about the truth in what they are trying to accomplish.  Unfortunately this is often different than what the various media outlets publish. 

Nov 28, 2011 07:39 AM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker
Boy, do I agree! How can we advise our clients if we know less than they do about what is going on around us? I read negative stuff because I can nearly always find where their conclusions went wrong. Then when my clients ask me about it I have an answer. By the way, I caught your 2010 House Hunters episode this weekend on a repeat. Good job.
Nov 28, 2011 08:35 AM
Eric Krebs
Surf and Country Realty - Newport Beach, CA

Good post.  Knowing the bad educates you to talk about the good.  Or it might even give you an educated opinion.  If you don't know the bad you can't educate your client.

Nov 28, 2011 08:55 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

I do read the paper.  And I think all the news networks have their bias - however Fox is my favorite. 

Nov 28, 2011 12:17 PM
Janell Kittleson
Rentec Direct - Grants Pass, OR
Rentec Direct

I agree that local print news is crucial to understanding your community but to say it is without bias is hopeful at best. A close friend and recent journalism master's graduate shared with me how disappointed she was with  how the editing crew of her well-known local paper would butcher a story until it was nearly unrecognizable as the truth she initially wrote.  Whether it be intentional or not, news is distorted the minute it's relayed - the nature of communication, I suppose.  

Nov 28, 2011 01:02 PM
Liane Thomas, Top Listing Agent
Professional Realty Services® - Corona, CA
Bringing you Home!

We have to know what the media is telling out clients!

Nov 28, 2011 01:20 PM
Marshall Brown
Mid America Inspection Services, LLC - Fargo, ND
BSEE, CHI

I love to start my day with the BBC Front Page on line and after that move over to other national news sources and then in the car catch NPR. At night I take time with Inman and Realty Times  and find that any newspaper I pick up is two days behind the times in international news and a full day behind national events.

Nov 28, 2011 01:32 PM
Winston Heverly
Coldwell Banker Access Realty - South Macon, GA
GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CIAS, PA

If people would report the news we could handle the truth. The sad part is the news has been left leaning for several decades and most people know this. Add to that the strict bias of CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS. and 50/50 FOX, and you are stuck with not news but opinion from the producer. Newspapers are worse. But hey we live in America, save time just go to Drudge...

Nov 28, 2011 05:26 PM
Sylvie Stuart
Realty One Group Mountain Desert 928-600-2765 - Flagstaff, AZ
Home Buying, Home Selling and Investment - Flagsta

It's definitely important to stay current as an agent, especially on local news

Nov 29, 2011 01:04 AM
Steven Pahl
Keller Williams Tampa Properties - Tampa, FL
Real Estate Consultant Tampa, FL 813-319-6423

I rarely "read" a newspaper, but get my updates online and from numerous RSS feeds.  It is amazing the types of stories that are headlined on one site and barely mentioned on another.  Variety makes for a more knowledgeable consumer!

Nov 29, 2011 07:53 AM