Intern Insights: Staying Informed

June 30, 2020

As a global citizen and active participant in the world, it is important to stay informed about issues globally and locally. Essential aspects of our lives are changing on a daily basis and it is our job to learn, assess our emotions towards the change, and take action. Being a college student, I find that due to my schedule and personal obligations, I tend to miss the daily news on television. Instead, I have found that using a combination of other resources has been effective for me—and below are recommendations on how to stay current and involved.

One of the simplest ways to receive information is through subscriptions to various news outlets. I receive daily emails from different accredited outlets and have found that it is the best way for me to receive information without being overwhelmed. I can sift through and read articles from various sources at the start of and throughout the day which allows me to make the most of my time and the information I receive.

Bridget’s Suggested Email Subscriptions:

www.theskimm.com

The Skimm: focuses on telling the in depth story of one main topic each morning. The writers of The Skimm use easy to understand language as well as slang to relate to and get the message across generations. The Skimm also has links to websites that further explain certain aspects of an article within the email for easy access. The Skimm also has a regular podcast!
Apple News: presents highlighted stories from around the world and provides links to articles from various media outlets. This email allows one to read a small blurb about each article and delve deeper into those that interest them.
The New York Times: morning briefing emails showcase the top stories from their website and newspaper that day. Like The Skimm, the email provides readers with one main story but also has a section called “4 more big stories” where they give a quick summary of each and provide readers the option to navigate to the full articles. Since the New York Times is one of the most widely read newspapers in the United States and has won more Pulitzer Prizes than any other media company in U.S. history, I trust this source over many others.
National Geographic: keeps me informed one what is going on in the world environmentally.

Another way to stay informed is listening to a daily podcast to get an overview of what is going on in the world today. Personally, I prefer listening to a short podcast that will give me the information I need, without going into significant detail. Listening to a short podcast works well for me because I can listen to it while I walk to class or while I’m doing other activities. The length also ensures that I will stay interested the entire time. These podcasts give me the opportunity to learn about topics and further research the ones that either interest me or confuse me, without taking up large amounts of time.

Bridget’s Suggested Podcast Subscriptions:

The Gist: describes itself as a “daily evening show about news, culture, and whatever else you’ll be discussing with friends and family tonight.” It is a 30 minute long podcast where host, Mike Pesca, spells out the most prevalent issues related to news & politics, culture, technology, business, and human interest. Pesca starts his podcast with a comedic or satirical take on a current issue. He then gets into the show which includes interviews with guests to offer their insight or perspective on certain topics. Additionally, Pesca introduces an abundance of facts followed by stating his own fact-based insights and opinions on the matter.
https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily

The Daily: describes itself as “how the news should sound.” It was created by the New York Times and is hosted by Michael Barbaro. For 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week, Barbaro hosts a show where he delves into what he believes to be the most important issue or event going on in the country on that day. Barbaro often collaborates with a different New York Times journalist or experts on the topic he is discussing to provide Americans with detailed facts and insights on a particular topic—allowing people to create informed, educated opinions on these topics. Barbaro ends the show with a two-minute segment about what else a person needs to know on that day.

Further, since most of us are constantly logged into social media, a way Chandler Potts stays informed is to follow news accounts online:

I am a Gen-Z college student who relies on her phone more than she should. I accept that I fit this stereotype and the pros and cons that accompany it. However, it can be incredibly useful to utilize different social media accounts and platforms in order to receive well-rounded news. Older generations may have various opinions about media consumption from strictly social platforms or, but I have found that I enjoy controlling where my views go. Instead of supporting mass media and news channels that are almost all owned by the same two companies and undoubtedly push their own agenda while reporting news with an underlying bias, I choose to not contribute to their views and ratings. I follow independent reporters and news accounts on Instagram and gain my knowledge via posts and linked articles.

News channels are known to post negative, dramatized news because it is good for ratings and therefore more profitable. Likewise, anger and separation generates more cash flow than unity does. However, in my experience, independent news sources are less inclined to include bias and social media accounts tend to generate followers and account interaction by posting stories that create positive or authentic imagery and generate positive feelings. Personally, I am happier in this space that highlights the good while still informing on current issues rather than being constantly bombarded with the negativity around us.

Chandler’s Suggested Instagram Accounts:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news

@gaurdian_us: The Guardian provides serious content in an Instagram friendly form with videos, linked articles, and strong graphics. It originated as a British news source prior to the creation of a US version. It’s motto is “no hidden influence, no agenda, no commercial interests. Just open, honest, fearless journalism.” The Guardian provides independent insight on a variety of national and international hot topics.
@theonion: The Onion is a satirical digital media and newspaper company that publishes articles on international, national, and local news. It is targeted toward millennials and gen-z therefore, if you are sensitive to foul language or sarcasm, it may not be the source for you. However, if you can get past the shock value, it is a good source of current events and alternative viewpoints on what is going on in the world.
@tanksgoodnews: Tank’s Good News describes itself as a place for people to get away from the toxic news cycle. Here, you get your daily dose of positivity happening around the world and can have your faith in humanity restored. It links positive articles in its bio and takes submissions from followers. It may not be the spot to get informed on political happenings or social injustice, although it has delved into these topics more as of late given the events going on in our country, but if you want to see a teacher recognized for going above and beyond for their students or a community rallying around a child with disabilities, this is the spot for you.
@globalpositivenews: Much like the account above, Global Positive News is dedicated to spreading positivity and providing a retreat from what one would see when they turn on the six o’clock news.
@goodnews_movement: Again, this is an account that focuses on positive current events and spreading joy throughout the community of its followers.

Staying Informed is cool, do it!!!

In this day of the 24/7 news cycle, staying informed is a choice we have to make each day so that we can form educated opinions and make educated decisions. Lack of knowledge of specific facts and figures about current events can lead to ignorance and the spread of misinformation. By using the resources above, you can easily become a more informed citizen of this world.