I can't be the only one who feels as though it's nearly impossible to stay on top of the endless barrage of political changes, social revolutions, criminal activity, and everything else that encompasses global news. In the midst of an already overwhelming atmosphere of class, extra-curriculars, social commitments, etc., it's easy to feel buried. So, here are the top six most hassle-free, college student-friendly ways to stay up-to-date!
1. theSkimm
Honestly one of the top five easiest things I’ve ever done, and easily one of the best moves I’ve made in an attempt to stay caught up with the world’s biz. Here’s what you do: visit theSkimm, enter your email address/phone number, receive succinct and hilarious recaps of global news every morning to read at your leisure. theSkimm is particularly excellent at providing a brief summary of global highlights but comes up lacking in terms of detail and insight.
2. Buzzfeed News
Oh, a site you’re a hundo percent already visiting on the daily? Could it possibly be this easy? Why, yes! It could and is! Buzzfeed News, while it is a tad longer than theSkimm daily news, provides just enough insight in a meaningful way for you to really feel like you know what’s going on. Buzzfeed News includes not only the world’s biggest stories but adds additional stories that may be overlooked by other on-the-go news sources at the bottom of the email. Subscribe here.
BONUS! While you’re there, you can watch the Internet’s most recent cats doing weird stuff.
3. iPhone News App
While I check both of the above every morning, I tend to overlook iPhone News sometimes. That’s annoying, though, because it’s easily the most personalized and in-depth news source so far. When you set up the news app on your iPhone (if you have one), you select the topics, people, and sources that interest you most. These are continually refreshed so that you not only have the most current news but news that you’ll be most interested in!
4. Snapchat
Kind of a wild card, right? While I wouldn’t recommend relying on Snapchat as a consistent news source, honestly… it's so cool! It’s such an interesting social media platform on which to receive news, and the graphics are always slaying. I’m not usually down to read a full-length article on Snapchat, but I love the recap videos.
BONUS! While you’re there, you can watch Tasty-eque food videos on Tastemade, Food Network, etc.
5. NPR
Yeah, okay… you caught me. I’m a nerd. It’s fine. Aren’t we all a little bit? Anyway, that doesn’t change the fact that NPR is 1. A consistently reliable news source. 2. Almost always dependable as an unbiased provider of information, and 3. Probably the easiest option I’ve provided. I listen to NPR in the morning on my way to class or work, usually Morning Edition or All Things Considered. Not only are they incredible sources of information with insightful interviews, succinct analysis, and dependable facts, but I don't have to do anything but press a button and suddenly, I'm learning. You straight up don’t even have to go through the trouble of reading. Just listen. There’s pretty much no excuse not to.
6. Just a lil' gimme
Sign up for your favorite news source’s daily email, download their app, whatever. Everyone has a preference: CNN, NBC, Fox, etc. Whatever source you most identify with, I just encourage you to stay aware.
