In an era of “fake news” and clickbait, many people (myself included) have a tendency to passively absorb information from whatever headlines pop up on their phone. This brief blurb is often later regurgitated in relevant conversations without their knowledge of the full context. However, without fully reading an article or educating yourself on the issue at hand you may be misinformed.
In today’s culture, digital and media communications are primary sources of current events. We use what we learn through the internet to form opinions on important matters such as politics. Therefore it is pertinent to educate ourselves thoroughly in order to make well-informed decisions and opinions.
As a young college student about to enter the work force, I believe I have a personal responsibility to be up to date on current events in order to be an active participant in social and political matters. As a result, I decided that one of my new years resolutions for 2019 is to be more informed on global events.
Make a daily commitment.
What I use: TheSkimm is a newsletter subscription service that sends you a comprehensive collection of news each morning. Once you subscribe, you are emailed a daily bulletin that includes brief summaries of current events. These summaries include topics such as politics, business, pop culture, science, and more. TheSkimm encompasses not only American news, but also international affairs.
Why I subscribe: It can be overwhelming to sort through news stories to figure out what’s going on in the world, and to be fair, sometimes a little confusing. For anyone who has limited time and a tight budget like myself (because college is expensive!), TheSkimm provides trustworthy information all in one place for FREE! Its easy-to-read format breaks down heavy topics into bit sized chunks that are easier to digest. I personally enjoy reading TheSkimm in the morning over breakfast to stay in touch with what’s going on in the world. The relevant and often interesting information provided teaches me something new and creates a productive start to my day. TheSkimm is consistent in updating ongoing issues to ensure that subscribers are informed on new changes or developments. During the recent government shutdown, for example, I was able to follow the progress of the shutdown and the consequential impact it had on the nation as well as government employees. There’s even an app available for those who prefer to have everything at their fingertips and avoid searching through a cluttered inbox. Some of the benefits of using the app are it’s customizable features which give you the option to tailor your feed based on your interests, check out audio episodes, and receive news notifications via text.
See what people are talking about.
What I use: Twitter is a well known social media platform where users can share short messages, 140 characters, to express their opinions and thoughts with the world. These messages greatly differ in topics; however, Twitter also features a “what’s trending” page that can be used to find the most talked about tweets of the moment. The social media’s slogan: “It’s what’s happening,” rings true to the ways in which users are able to follow, tweet, and retweet current topics at their fingertips.
Why I follow: Although Twitter is arguably not the most reputable source in terms of receiving contextualized news and accurate information, it does provide a platform on which people are able to bring attention to hot topics and spark discussions about them. The free app provides an opportunity to participate in active conversations and exchange thoughts and opinions in response to news. This freedom of expression effectively enables users to be exposed to diverse opinions. Additionally, the use of hashtags allows the user to search for tweets about a certain topic based on the hashtag used in a tweet. For example, if you didn’t watch the State of the Union, you might use Twitter to see how people are responding to the event. Overall, Twitter is a convenient way for users to get a general understanding of “what’s happening.”
Broaden your horizons.
What I use: The New York Times is a daily US newspaper that reports contextualized news stories on a wide variety of topics, including reviews and columns. In addition to print, The New York Times also has an active online website and an even more regularly updated Twitter account.
Why I follow: Though The New York Times may seem like a more formal choice given all of the media and news outlets available, The New York Times is regarded as a reputable source for reporting all things related to current events. This network covers an array of fields of interests, both nationally and internationally. I often refer to The New York Times to find further information on topics that have piqued my interest from other digital media outlets. An additional advantage of The New York Times is the featured photojournalism articles which incorporate multimedia to illustrate happening events and issues occurring around the globe. Similar to TheSkimm and Twitter described above, The New York Times allows you to cater your feed according to your interests and curiosities by dividing articles into related categories.
For further reading
Similar to TheSkimm: Need 2 Know
For the basics: Digg
Additional multimedia news networks: CNN
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