Never in human history have we had the ease, efficiency, and access to information that we have today. We live in an era where we are constantly connected and the news is oftentimes so current that it's live. You would think with this overload of information and access at our fingertips, we'd be the smartest and most informed generation to date. Unfortunately, this is false. Much of the news we receive is fabricated, censored, biased, or just plain fake. It is our duty as citizens and as intelligent minds to educate ourselves from a multitude of perspectives and never limit ourselves to one ideology that we limit ourselves from the ability to experience paradigm shifts and the ability to grow and evolve our mindsets.
I'll be the first to admit that sometimes the news can be a depressing addition to our day and can sometimes feel like a chore. And I am by NO MEANS the most informed citizen, but I am committed to always making some type of effort to read about something I don't know about almost every day.
I'm always right. Ha! Don't take this the wrong way, I do not know everything or even close to everything. BUT, I am very careful about the things I speak and write because I never want to share something that I am not certain is right (or the truth). I'd rather say nothing than ever share something untruthful. Sure, I have my opinions, but all of them, I am ready to back up in my rationale. And if I ever speak something with uncertainty, I am sure to say "I don't know for sure" to never mislead. I hate lies because I hate deception, and it is up to each of us to educate ourselves by reading a variety of perspectives and forming our own conclusions.
I have grown up watching Fox News, and now I really enjoy the ease of their website and app. I can skim the top stories to get a general idea of what's happening in the world each day. Tucker Carlson is my favorite journalist, and honestly, he is one of the few journalists I can listen to speak for an entire hour. I look to Fox News to stay up to date with most of politics, but I also find interesting news stories from all genres.
- WSMV - Nashville Local Station
This station is local to where I'm from. I use this source for local information from local happenings to weather. This keeps me informed on issues happening in my city, state, and region that might not make national headlines. While it is important to be aware of global and national events, it is equally important to know what is going on locally.
- The Skimm - A Satire on News, But Quick Way to Get Informed
I love The Skimm because it is such a quick way to get informed. It skims the surface and even mocks some pretty serious stuff (which can sometimes be offensive), but the humor keeps me engaged and it helps me pick a few quick stories to go and do more research on. If something I read sparks my interest, I can delve deeper into research from other sources. However if it is something less interesting to me, then at least I'm informed about it and can understand references or join in on the conversation in day-to-day life.
- BBC - World View
I don't go to this site often, but whenever I do, I typically learn about something happening globally from an entirely new perspective. I find it fun to seek out new stories that aren't about people and cultures of which I'm most familiar. I think it's really interesting to read about U.S. politics or anything about our country on this site because oftentimes the perspective is super different as it is told from a very much outsider perspective.
- Facebook/Bloggers/Social Media
Sad but true, I truly look to Facebook and bloggers and other social media platforms to stay informed. I don't read them through the same lens as I do traditional media, and I judge their credibility differently. Maybe not about earth-shattering news, but there is no better way to read about the news with a more empathetic mindset or get informed about current events than firsthand through these mediums. For example, it is one thing to hear about a new cancer clinical trial on a news site, but it is another to read about a woman going through it through her first-hand accounts or a person sharing about their family member's experience.
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I'm not the most informed citizen, but I believe we have an obligation to do our due diligence when it comes to just about everything we hear or read. I am very firm in my political beliefs, but I truly respect differing opinions when individuals can rationally explain why they believe what they believe. In order to form respectable opinions, I believe people need to truly understand the topics they choose to speak about and not just repeat what they hear from others.
