So one of my New Year's resolutions is to be better about keeping up with the news. How have I done so far? Eh, not bad. I read a couple articles from NYTimes.com about three times a week (my brain can handle only so much health care and economy talk), and I turn on the news more often while I'm on the treadmill at the gym instead of watching the rap station—depending on the speed I'm running, that is. (Sometimes 50 Cent and Jay-Z are the only ones that can get me through a sweat sesh).
When Scott Brown won the Senate seat for Massachusetts, I turned to The Economist to find out what all the hubbub was about, and learned about the whole supermajority thingy. Right. I'm sure I should have known about that years ago, but at least I know now.
If news anchors like Ron Burgundy existed, you betcha I'd be watching the news 24/7! It's hilarious when he's like, "I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down into my belly." There are whispers of Anchorman 2 coming out (but ugh, not until 2012)—I can't wait!
An.y.way. So admittedly, I have to make a big effort to follow the news because I certainly don't do it out of enjoyment. I just want to know the basic jist of what's going on in the world and not look like a deer in headlights during any sort of political conversation. I made a reference about the economy to a girl I met last week at a party, and she looked at me like she had no idea what the heck I was talking about. I do not want to be that girl.
So tell me: How do you keep up with the news? Anyone have tips for me to make it easier or more enjoyable to follow?
Posts
I watch a cable news outlet when I eat my cereal and I read news online. Then if there is a copy of the WSJ in my firm's kitchen I might peruse it while my leftovers heat up for lunch. Also, sometimes people link articles I find interesting on their blogs and FB pages. Of course, I tend to click only on those links that support my beliefs (preaching to the choir, or blind leading the blind depending on how you look at it).
ReplyDeleteThe Week is sometimes a good summation of news for news sake.
But remember - ANY news outlet is going to have some teeny tiny angle to it. So just take EVERYTHING you read with a grain of salt...including what I just said.
And good for you for checking up on something you weren't sure about. Curiosity leads to knowledge!
SCS
My recipe for absorbing the news is skimming the NY Times headlines watching The Daily Show. Throw in some Anderson Cooper (sometimes) and I feel like I know what's going. John Stewart and the Anderson can make anything interesting.
ReplyDeleteI try to keep up a little on the major things goign on (front page of search engine type of news), but I'm not great at it. The sad part is, that I really don't care about most of it. Not being the dummy in the room is the only motivation. I love John Stewart,and Colbert but I don't consider that news really. Stewart is really impressivly educated on each topic or guest he has on, but if that is news then so is South Park. Local TV news is a complete loss on me. Its all about who got raped, stabbed, shot, a fluff piece about kittens, and then a story about a poor family that got killed by a drunk driver. I would rather be ignorant to the fact that stuff happens every single day. For example: I'm not cold to the fact that millions of people in Haiti are dead or missing (I feel horrible about it), but I don't want to re-live it each evening in graphic detail. Good topic Ellen, I hadn't really thought about it.
ReplyDeletetwitter
ReplyDeleteI follow a bunch of news outlets