W2F...my grandmother was the same way after 9/11. My grandfather had just passed in June. She was almost obsessed/compulsive about watching the news. It got to the point where many of her children and my family were worried about her. We helped curb her news obsession/compulsion with getting her out of the house more.

I remember reading somewhere (I forget where) that the news can cause depression. I watch the local news off and on. I do know that you should discourage children (and many elderly are somewhat childlike) from watching the news. It can cause nightmares.

They say to read the newspaper with your kids...that way you control what they read (and it builds reading skills). I think I have taken off on a tangent...lol