With the revolutionary creation of the internet, the print journalism business took a big hit, but we have so many new ways to be informed.
So why aren't we taking advantage of this abundance of information?
Many people claim there isn't enough time in the day to watch the news, read a newspaper, etc. However, the presence of social media seems to be something we fall back to during our "free time."
Here are 10 easy ways to be informed without having to watch the news 24/7, read the newspaper every day, or follow 20 different stations on Twitter.
Watch A Town Hall or Debate
Watching a debate or a town hall is a great way to learn about a presidential candidate. You are able to see if they are well-spoken, likable, how they interact with the public, and learn their stances on important issues.
The example above is CNN's Town Hall with Pete Buttigieg moderated by Jake Tapper. Throughout the town hall, questions were asked by Jake Tapper and taken from the audience.
The public is able to attend these events or watch them live on TV.
Follow Presidential Candidates On Social Media
An easy way to become more informed on who you should vote for is Twitter. Yes, that platform you spend hours scrolling through each night.
Many presidential candidates, journalists, and politicians have social media platforms.
Following the presidential candidates on Twitter is an easy way to see what they are doing, when they are speaking in public or on the news, and to learn about their policies!
Subscribe To A Newspaper / Email List
Subscribe to a Newspaper!
Whether you like holding it in your hands, receiving it by email, or reading it online, it does not cost much to support the industry.
Papers like The New York Times and Financial Times partner with schools to give free access to their content. Therefore, it is worth checking if your school is partnered with any news organizations!
Many networks like CNN send you an email a day of 5 trending subject summaries a day! All you have to do is sign up via email.
Go To A Rally
Candidates travel from city to city to speak to the public and inform you about their policies. Look at your local events whether it be in your city or at your school!
It's a great way to learn about who you want to vote for, learn a different perspective, and be informed. These events are usual motivating and in good spirit. Take a couple of friends and make a day out of it!
Late-Night Talk Show Hosts
Late-Night Talk Show hosts like Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Trevor Noah all incorporate politics in their shows and add a great amount of humor.
All though these are not the most reliable sources as much of it is parody and satire, it is a great way to make light of the news and listen to your favorite talk show host. It is also a great way to spark your interest in a topic!
Stephen Colbert has even brought guest like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Meghan McCain, and Jake Tapper on his show.
Watch An Hour Of News
GiphyWhether it's a week or a day, it's not that hard to turn the news on for an hour. Find an anchor you like and you'll be more inclined to watch!
Most news networks bring in analysts, reporters, other journalists from different networks, and politicians to support their show and bring in different viewpoints.
This includes debates, which the audience can learn a lot from, especially when listening to opposing sides.
Download A News App
Many networks such as CNN, ABC, NBC, Fox News, The Washington Post, and The New York Times have their own apps in the App Store.
These apps allow you easy access to stories, notifications to breaking news, and live streaming on your phone! Getting the notification on your phone is the easiest way to learn about what's going on that day.
Some of the apps allow you to create favorites such as stories in California or stories on healthcare.
Radio and Podcast
Radio and podcasts are two of the highest growing tracks of journalism. Many radio stations and podcasts have even begun filming their interviews, which they upload to their websites, social media platforms, and frequently YouTube.
"The Breakfast Club" is an example of a radio station that has had politicians and journalists as guests on their show. They also film their shows and post them on YouTube, which is a fun and interactive way to listen to their show.
Follow Journalists or News Organizations On Social Media
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are all platforms that journalists, politicians, and news networks are on. Follow a couple of each to get different perspectives and immediate news coverage.
Following journalists, politicians, or news networks on Twitter is a great way to see previews of articles before deciding to click on the link!
It is also a great source to see graphics, fact-checking, videos of news coverage you missed live, and notifications to important coverage.
Support Local News
A great way to learn about where you live and get involved is to follow, subscribe to, watch, or keep up with some sort of local news.
Learning about your area, the people in it, and everyday news is a great way to be informed. It's also a great way to learn about events or new stores and restaurants in your area!
Many local platforms on the radio, broadcast, print, digital, and more need all the help they can right now. Local news is important, therefore, we should protect its transparency and independence however we can.
If you are a college student, another great way is to read your collegiate paper. Many high school's have these too. Better yet get involved with one!
In The Cases Of Past Tweets And Comments Like Tucker Carlson's, Context Matters
Before attacking someone over old comments, review the context of they said.
As of lately, digging up old tweets and comments from a prominent person has been a trend. These comments are then used as a club against them. The most recent victim of this trend is Tucker Carlson, for his comments he made on the radio show "Bubba the Love Sponge." Carlson, working for MSNBC at the time, appeared on the radio show and between 2006 and 2011. On there, he defended child rapist Warren Jeffs and used homophobic slurs.
While these comments are wrong and in bad taste, we have to consider the context, how long ago it was said, and whether he actually believes what he has said.
"Bubba the Love Sponge" is a shock jock radio show, with the sole purpose of saying crazy, over the top and offensive things. While it is not a good idea to go on a shock jock show while working for MSNBC, Carlson was more than likely saying those things to get a reaction, especially from the host. Given this scenario, it is hard to believe he actually holds these views.
These comments were around 12 years ago. We are constantly changing our world-view and opinions, especially in the span of that timeframe. It's not practical to be mad over something that was said 12 years ago. If Carlson said them now, then there would be a better cause to call him out. Using these 12-year-old comments as a way to attack him now just demonstrates that you are politically motivated.
None of this is to justify what he said publicly. His words were garbage. It's just to show that he does not need to be fired from Fox News and that context matters in these situations. He does not need to apologize to the twitter mobs that went after him. However, a case can be made that he should apologize to the victims of Warren Jeffs.
This trend doesn't just happen to conservative talk show hosts. Last year, Kevin Hart lost his Oscar host role over 10-year-old tweets. In these tweets, he made multiple jokes making fun of homosexuality. One tweet read, "Yo if my son comes home & tries 2 play with my daughter's dollhouse I'm going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice 'stop that's gay.'"
We all know who Kevin Hart is. He's a comedian, and a very beloved one too. He was a comedian hopping on Twitter to make some quick jokes, just like every other comedian does. His goal wasn't to throw hatred at the LGBT community. No one batted an eye when these were first tweeted, so why should we bat an eye now? The only people who were offended by these tweets were Twitter mobs who make a career of throwing people on the curb.
Even the president of Media Matters, the organization that unearthed Tucker Carlson's old comments, has some bad comments from the past. Angelo Carusone went after transgenders, Jewish people, and Japanese people on his blog from 12 years ago. He used a derogatory term for Japanese people and transgender people. He also said that about his boyfriend that, "despite his jewelry, you KNOW he's adorable."
Should Angelo Carusone be fired from his position at Media Matters for the same reason he wants Tucker Carlson to be fired from his position at Fox News? No, he should keep his job. Again, the context of these comments matter. Is he really anti-Semitic? Probably not, given that he was dating a Jewish person. All these comments were meant to get a reaction at the time. As in the case of Carlson and Hart, we shouldn't hold years old comment to Carusone, and act like they said it five minutes ago.
It is best to watch what we say publicly. We should always consider whether something is worth saying. But the right we hold to free speech allows us to say whatever crazy and outlandish words we want unless it is a call for violence. The fact that these people are allowed to say these things brings to light how privileged we are as a nation—a nation that protects, not punishes, free speech.