"I've turned off all my news alerts, it's just too much and there's nothing I can do," said a woman to her friend.

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"Message me if there's something I really need to know."

It's a conversation I overheard while in a supermarket queue recently.

And it's an increasingly common phenomenon. Even hardened news-passionate journalist friends of mine are struggling to read the news.

The University of Canberra recently released its report on digital media which - alarmingly - states that 69 per cent of those surveyed said that they try not to engage with general news coverage. And only 43 per cent of the 2000 people surveyed, said they trust the news.

We can't afford to look away. At a time of foment and instability, with the current conflicts in Iran, Gaza and Ukraine, we need to find ways of engaging in the world around us, without feeling overwhelmed.

It's time to rethink our approach to news coverage in a bid to rebuild trust in journalism and in evidence-based information.

The Constructive Institute in Aarhus, Denmark, has pioneered a journalistic approach which applies a constructive lens to news reporting.

Working with journalists and news organisations, via fellowships and partnerships, The Constructive Institute is quietly transforming news in Scandinavia and beyond, while also increasing engagement and trust in news.

Put simply, a constructive........

© Canberra Times