Navigating the News
- Jessica Shechtman
- Oct 6, 2019
- 3 min read
Everyone should keep up with what is going on in the world, but doing so is especially important for people who are studying international relations (for obvious reasons). The only problem is where should we go to consume our news? What about news sources that are biased or leave out important current events? How do we make sure that as students, professionals, scholars, or even as ordinary people, we are educating ourselves with the most accurate news? Below I have compiled some tips and suggestions for doing IR research and staying up to date with the news.
Where should I consume my news?
Websites- Here are some of the websites that I personally use to consume news. (Disclaimer: There is bias everywhere. You will not find a website that has absolutely no bias. Remember, humans are the ones writing these articles after all.) The most important thing to remember is that you should always be reading a variety of sources before developing an opinion on an issue or topic. Some websites are known to lean left or right. It is your job to read consume a variety of sources to understand all perspectives. Studying IR is not about being partisan or enhancing your political views, it is about being open-minded and educated about worldy topics.
UN News: A good spot for international news, no need to fact-check information found here (You can actually use this website to fact-check other news outlets.)
Associated Press: AP is perceived as the least biased news website by the public according to Business Insider, AP also covers a wide variety of topics
The New York Times: A staple news website, reliable, but known to lean “left”
The Wall Street Journal: Also considered more left than right, but reporters are known to focus on just the facts and providing alternative perspectives
BBC News: A British website, used widely in the United States for global news
Other websites: USA Today, PBS News, Washington Post, CBS, ABC, and here is a list of 100 more
Apps- Apps are good to use if you have certain interests because you can usually set custom filters so that only topics you want to read about show up. Apps are easy, quick and efficient for on-the-go news. Below are the links to download these apps onto your phone or device (some are also available as websites).
Google News (for Android, for Apple)
Television- People will argue that no one consumes their news on TV anymore, but doing so has its perks. It is easy to casually turn the TV on and consume news while you are doing other things. Watching or listening to the news on TV also helps you avoid your own bias since you don’t have to scroll and pick articles to read. It is also a great way to hear about local news.
What about social media?
Social media is also a platform to read the news. It is more informal, and I wouldn't say to cite social media posts in an essay or presentation, but you consume news via social media every day without even realizing. Plus, reading comments and responses can help you determine bias and “fake news” because social media is self-policing! So you can use social media, just be cautious of what is credible and what is not.
How do I fact-check what I am reading or listening to?
According to Business Insider, Americans are generally aware that the news they consume is often biased. The best way to avoid bias is to create your own. What I mean by this is take the time to sort through the information you are receiving and draw your own conclusions. Everyone has personal biases, but wouldn't you rather have your own perspective than blindly follow someone else's? When I'm not sure about information, I usually research it further on these websites.
If you remember one thing from all this, it should be to always BE SKEPTICAL. It is better to double and triple check sources and facts than to consume and pass along unreliable information. Happy news reading everyone!
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