Author Archive: Glenn Reynolds

WELL, SHE CAN’T ADMIT OTHERWISE:

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YEAH, PRETTY MUCH: Are Media Folks Literally Insane?

Flashback: Journalists drink too much, are bad at managing emotions, and operate at a lower level than average, according to a new study.

Journalists’ brains show a lower-than-average level of executive functioning, according to a new study, which means they have a below-average ability to regulate their emotions, suppress biases, solve complex problems, switch between tasks, and show creative and flexible thinking.

The study, led by Tara Swart, a neuroscientist and leadership coach, analysed 40 journalists from newspapers, magazines, broadcast, and online platforms over seven months. The participants took part in tests related to their lifestyle, health, and behaviour. . . .

Each subject completed a blood test, wore a heart-rate monitor for three days, kept a food and drink diary for a week, and completed a brain profile questionnaire.

The results showed that journalists’ brains were operating at a lower level than the average population, particularly because of dehydration and the tendency of journalists to self-medicate with alcohol, caffeine, and high-sugar foods.

Forty-one percent of the subjects said they drank 18 or more units of alcohol a week, which is four units above the recommended weekly allowance. Less than 5% drank the recommended amount of water.

However, in interviews conducted in conjunction with the brain profile results, the participants indicated they felt their jobs had a lot of meaning and purpose.

But of course.

OPEN THREAD: Do that comment voodoo that you do so well.

GOOD: FDA to end dozens of ‘obsolete’ rules for U.S. food items. “The Food and Drug Administration now contends that additional consumer protections mixed with advances in food science, production and agricultural practices have made it unnecessary to keep many of the older ‘recipe standards.'”