My (Current) Top 5 News Sources

In the ever-changing world of technology and media, I'd argue, that today it is harder to find a reliable news source than it is to find love (joking of course, but not really). That being said, we live in a unique era where almost everybody can access a piece of news/media without buying a paper or owning a television. It's important to note that while news may be much more accessible today, it certainly is not as reliable as it once might've been. Below, I'll be listing my top five sources of news. This isn't a list about specific news channels, but rather sources/platforms that I use to both watch and discuss news.

Instagram

What started as a social media app aimed at a younger audience, has emerged into arguably the top platform of news for many Americans. Every MSM network has an account that they post their news to, like they would on TV, but with less of the commentary. It's also been a hotspot for less mainstream sources that report on the news that the MSM does not. One thing I love about Instagram is the comments. Yes, they're humorous most of the time, but reading through them also helps one understand what the actual public is feeling towards a certain issue, and not what the MSM is telling you "how people feel." As with any platform, misinformation also runs rampant and it's still of upmost importance to verify the sources on your own.

Friends & Family

While not necessarily a source you totally want to rely on getting your news from, friends and family offer a great way to discuss current events. If you have a family like mine, very even split when it comes to politics, then discussing news with them is like watching a show on a news broadcast. While it can get feisty sometimes, I've always found it as an amazing environment to not only debate ideas/opinions but also reflect on them. When you come to these discussions with an open mind, you're able to mentally explore ideas that maybe you never thought of before. I've had lots of changing views over the years that I credit to these types of discussions. 

Podcasts

Arguably the top source of news today for many people, podcasts have taken over what MSM once was. Whether it's specifically on politics, or science, or any subset of topics, the main draw of podcasts is ultimately to hear new things. Shows like Joe Rogan's or Tucker Carlson's, while obviously more right leaning, have on a wide variety of guests from actors to scientists, to politicians. Podcasts have the ability to convey the news that MSM doesn't focus on; they're not only limited to politics like much of MSM, but open to other topics like art, science, etc. Like with friends and family, these shows, and depending on the guest, offer you a chance to reflect on what their saying, that maybe you've never thought of before. 

Mainstream Media (MSM)

There's a lot of problems with MSM right now. All the major shows are openly biased towards one political party and majority of the news they produce are reported in heavily biased tones. However, even without an unbiased news station, you can still find the middle ground by utilizing both sides of the aisle. When I watch MSM I like to hear one sides spin on the story (let's say Fox), then switch over to the other sides reporting of it (let's say CNN). While both seem to report on the extremes of each piece of news, one can independently reflect on both views and reach their own conclusions (rather than letting the media do it for you). I believe this is the only way to responsibly consume news from the MSM.

Microsoft News (MSN)

While not necessarily my main sources of news, MSN is still the go to on my computer. Anytime I open a tab MSN is right there with 10+ articles, all within the last day or two, ready for me to read. While most of the articles are pulled from MSM, they have a comment feature for the articles that most of the news websites don't have. It allows me to easily access and catch up on the news when I don't have access to a phone. I mostly use MSN during class or when taking study breaks. I think it's a great way to catch up the latest news, as long as you're aware of the biases before you read.