Vitalii Petrushenko/iStock via Getty Images Co-authored by Treading Softly On June 1st, 1980, the world changed forever. While there have been many monumental milestones throughout humankind's history, few could readily be described as universally disapproved of. On this day, CNN began its 24-hour news cycle.
An endless supply of news was presented 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and could be piped into your home through a television set. It would take 16 years, in 1996, for Fox to begin its own 24-hour news cycle. Since then, there have been 24-hour news channels blaring the most insignificant pieces of news as well as massively significant pieces of news into American homes round the clock.
This led to "business" versions of 24/7 news channels, causing a lot of consternation among investors who otherwise would not have this level of fear or anxiety. They have the urge to "do something" as they are inundated by talking heads trying to make even the most insignificant news into something important. After all, news is only interesting to the viewer if the news channel can make it seem very important.
You see, news used to travel to you daily via news broadcasts or newspapers, and corporate news was typically received quarterly from a company's earnings announcements. News traveled slowly, and space was limited, so stories had to compete for spots in the newspaper. The stock market is not nearly as exciting as many believe it to be if you are invested in solid, stable compan.