News (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I cannot remember the last time I actually sat down and read a newspaper. Likewise, I don’t remember when I last watched the news. These days, I get most of my news from the internet.
In fact, I’m ashamed to say that the majority of my current affairs knowledge comes from two sources – twitter and facebook. That isn’t to say I don’t do any research. Quite the contrary. If I see something on twitter or facebook that captures my interest, I then use google to look up reputable sources for more information. Getting my news in this manner has some advantages. Firstly, I find the facts to be more reliable (and enjoyable to read) than traditional mainstream media. The daily half-hour of news, and our local rag, tend to be sensationalist, biased and very light on facts. In contrast, non-mainstream online news sources tend to be less sensational, more factual and, while still biased, can be balanced out by searching sites reporting the same news from a different point of view.
Secondly, I am able to access a far greater variety of news articles. Stories that are not considered interesting or sensational enough to make it into the mainstream media; stories that the mainstream media are either too scared or too biased to cover; local news from other parts of the world that would normally only be interesting to locals, but which I find entertaining to read – these are all areas that I cannot access through my news programs or newspapers.
Another advantage to accessing my news in this way is that it is easier for me to filter out the crap in favour of those articles that really interest me. I no longer have to sit through an entire news program to hear that one short story, or sift through an entire newspaper in order to find a tiny article hidden somewhere in the back. I no longer have to run off to library if I wish to know more about whater event is being reported – I can simply open another tab and google the topic.
I know that there are disadvantages to accessing news online. Lets face it – there is a lot of crap out there growing from a lot of bullshit. However, if one is careful to check the facts, is attentive to the reliability of sources, aware of biases and researches a story thoroughly, then internet news can be a more reliable and convenient option.
Where do you get your news?
Related articles
- Gallup Poll: Virtually No One Trusts the Mainstream Media (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
- Mainstream media in collapse (hangthebankers.com)
- Extra, extra, read all about … what’s killing journalism (dailykos.com)
- Seven Things About the Mainstream Media that They Do Not Want You to Know (usahitman.com)
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