It doesn't work that way.
Our cognitive threat detection systems create very real biological responses to the information we receive from the news, prompting shifts in cortisol, adrenaline, and other stress hormones. That automatic threat response has very real effects on your short and long-term health and mental/emotional well-being. [1]
The potential for sudden, dramatic, unexpected loss of life or property (called Loss Aversion) is one of the most attention-pulling things in the world. Once you start paying attention, it's extremely difficult to stop, even if you can't do anything with the information.
It's easy to be sucked in by modern news media, and spend way too much time and energy ruminating on situations you can't influence or control. You're burning the limited amount of attention, focus, and energy you have each day on something that ultimately provides zero value.
I'm all for being informed about what's happening in the world at a baseline level, provided you focus on information you're in a position to act upon - by avoiding a local threat (weather/earthquake/wildfire/etc), donating to a non-profit in the event of a disaster/tragedy, educating yourself before an impending election, etc.
Otherwise, the best way to handle most news media is not to pay attention to it at all. Treat it as a tabloid: best to be avoided if you want to preserve your focus for more important matters.
[1] See "The Science of Fear" by Dan Gardner, http://www.amazon.com/dp/0452295467/