Not a recipe for ignorance but good advice. Nassim Nicholas Taleb gave almost identical advice years ago:

"Don’t read newspapers for the news (just for the gossip and, of course, profiles of authors). The best filter to know if the news matters is if you hear it in cafes, restaurants... or (again) parties." and

"If something is going on, I hear about it. I like to talk to people, I socialise. Television is a waste of time. Human contact is what matters."

Taleb is right: if it's important you'll hear about it from a friend or acquaintance.