As a journalism major, I think everyone should care about the news and who delivers it to you. But I also understand why some people try to avoid the news at all cost – it’s hard to know if you’re getting the full story. Bias and political drive gets in the way of platforms delivering the story without personal vendettas or emotion getting in the way.
If you do care, but you’re exhausted from the drama, here are some tips to keep you relevant on a college student’s time.
Sign up for morning emails.
This is a quick and efficient way to wake up. Most news platforms have a morning email subscription available, where you simply sign up with your email and receive a daily update of world news. The ones found to be the most matter-of-fact and easy to read are platforms like the Huffington Post and The Skimm. Both give very simple explanations of current events and popular news.
Set up alerts on your laptop and phone from different platforms
We live in a world driven by apps, and news sites recognize that. There are very few left that do not have an app. Download a few different ones and set up news alerts. For example, I have CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fox News, Google News, The BBC, Buzzfeed and the Huffington Post installed on my phone. You will get all the information on what’s going on in the world, and you’ll be surprised at how one story can be reported so differently based on who is writing it.
Follow platforms on social media
Don’t lie – the second you get some down time between classes, you are on your phone scrolling through social media. Instead of worrying about people and what they are doing or not doing this weekend, follow some news sites. Just like apps, it’s hard to find any company that doesn’t have a Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or all of the above.
Subscribe to Magazines
While magazines are not as easy to get a hold of as an app or email, they are a really good place to read about news and culture. Time, Wired, and National Geographic are magazines that report on more serious world news and happenings, but you can find some good information about pop culture and politics in magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair. This does usually cost money, but you can find good deals sometimes – most offer a low, one-time payment for a year of issues.
Just pay attention and care
It’s easier to look away than it is to care and act. I’m not saying you should be out on the front lines every day, but every movement starts with people who just care about the world and the people in it. Start your movement by just giving a crap and pay attention.
*all images courtesy of unsplash.com